J. W. Block

Louisiana Department of Corrections — Baton Rouge, LA

Felonious

End of Watch June 20, 1906

The Vigil Panel 20 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Captain J. W. Block was shot and killed after being taken prisoner by three convicts attempting to escape from the Angola State Prison saw mill. The prisoners had surprised Captain Block and disarmed him. As they made their way to the river they were fired upon by another guard.

The inmates forced Captain Block into a skiff and warned the approaching guards they would shoot him if they were fired upon. A prison trustee opened fire on the convicts, who in turn fatally shot Captain Block.

All three prisoners were shot in the gunfight, and a second guard was seriously wounded.

No passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice and you will always be remembered.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo (Retired) Delaware State Police June 20th, 2020

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-5C2E3928
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew J.. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Captain Block served with the Louisiana Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Louisiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Block.

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

Agency

Department Louisiana Department of Corrections

Location Baton Rouge, LA

Platform Identity ldcorr.ebr.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 20, 1906

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Shot and killed

Captain J. W. Block 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Louisiana Department of Corrections, 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Louisiana Department of Corrections

of 12 officers

66.7% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious