Roll of Honor
Incident
Correctional Officer Richard Rogers and Assistant Director Donald Smith were shot and killed inside of the Parker Elementary School in Sumner, Georgia, while attempting to apprehend an escapee from the George State Prison in Reidsville.
The prison trusty had escaped four days earlier while working inside of the assistant warden's home. He was able to gain control of a handgun inside the home and then took the assistant warden's wife hostage before stealing several more firearms. He forced the hostage to drive him over 100 miles before letting her go. She immediately alerted local authorities who started a massive search for the man.
Officers from the Georgia State Prison were also sent to Sumner to lead the search. Assistant Director Smith and Officer Rogers were part of a group of four officers who located fresh tracks near the elementary school and found it unlocked. As they began to search the school the escapee suddenly emerged from the principal's office and opened fire with a shotgun, killing Assistant Director Smith and Officer Rogers. One of the other two officers was wounded as they retreated and called for assistance.
The escapee then barricaded himself inside of the school's auditorium. He was shot and killed when he opened fire on approaching officers.
Officer Rogers had served with the Georgia State Prison for six years. He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and parents. His father was the superintendent of a state prison farm on which Officer Roger was born and raised.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-047989F9- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Rogers gave the Georgia Department of Corrections 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Georgia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Rogers.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Richard H. Rogers is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Georgia Department of Corrections, 16 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard H. Rogers's cause is highlighted.
How Richard H. Rogers Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard H. Rogers is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard H. Rogers was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
37 officers from Georgia Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
