John Derek Osborne

Denver Sheriff's Department — Denver, CO

Felonious

End of Watch August 7, 1974

Age 31

The Vigil Panel 114 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Deputy Sheriff John Osborne was stabbed to death by two inmates who were attempting to escape from the Denver County Jail. The two, 30 and 33, had overpowered another guard, stabbed him and took his keys, and then came across Deputy Osborne, who was on his normal rounds. The two suspects overpowered Deputy Osborne and cut his throat with a 4-inch homemade blade. The youngest, an escapee from the Colorado Penitentiary, was being held after he was captured. He was charged with Deputy Osborne's murder. The other suspect was being held for a several hold-ups of liquor stores in Dallas, Texas. Charges, related to Deputy Osborne's murder, were later dismissed against him. The killer, 25, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was released in 2011.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-ACC75B1D
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Osborne served with the Denver Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Osborne.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Denver Sheriff's Department

Location Denver, CO

Platform Identity dso.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 7, 1974

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Released in 2011

Deputy Sheriff John Derek Osborne is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Denver Sheriff's Department, 2 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.

Denver Sheriff's Department

of 7 officers

28.6% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious