Roll of Honor
Gary Lee Rowe
Incident
Correctional Officer Gary Rowe succumbed to injuries received when he was attacked by nine inmates who were attempting to escape from MCC San Diego in San Diego, California. A string made out of dental floss, 160 feet long, was being lowered from a window to the ground where a man waited. He was going to tie a rope to the string to be pulled back up when Officer Rowe entered their cell. The inmates attacked him with an iron bar, stripped him from a locker, and bashed his head against the cell wall knocking him unconscious. The inmates then shoved him under the cell's bed, where he was located by other officers who began searching for him. He never regained consciousness before passing away. Five inmates, 18, 21, 22, 36, and 38, were charged with murder, and four were charged with attempted escape. Two of the five, 22 and 38, were identified as the killers who bashed Officer Rowe's head against the cell wall. In July of 1983, the suspect, 22, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life to go along with his existing term of one year for illegal entry. The suspect, 18, was sentenced to four years. Three others were sentenced to 10 to 20 years. Another was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years. The convicted inmates were sent to federal prisons. Officer Rowe was a United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran. He was survived by three children. He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Knox, Starke County, Indiana.
Survivors
He was survived by three children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-FED-27CCF76F- Stewardship
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- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Correctional Officer Rowe served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Gary Lee Rowe served in the Other (1971â1973) before joining law enforcement.
Correctional Officer Gary Lee Rowe 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons, 26 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gary Lee Rowe's cause is highlighted.
How Gary Lee Rowe Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gary Lee Rowe is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gary Lee Rowe was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
