Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Warden Galen Walker was stabbed to death by an inmate at the Charlestown State Prison.
The inmate, who was serving a 12-year sentence for attempting to murder his wife by cutting her throat with a razor, was walking in file with other prisoners from the prison chapel following morning services. The suspect then stopped and handed Deputy Warden Walker a note that read, "Mr. Walker, you have not used me well." As Deputy Warden Walker turned to read the note, the suspect seized him from behind and stabbed him in the chest.
Several prisoners attempted to restrain the inmate, but the man was able to stab Deputy Warden Walker a second time, this time in the neck, killing him.
Two weeks later another inmate stabbed Warden Solon Tenney in the neck with a knife, killing him. That inmate told an investigating coroner that he got the idea to stab Warden Tenney in the neck after hearing about this incident.
Deputy Warden Walker had served with the Massachusetts Department of Correction for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MA-12A98641- 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 Galen. 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
170 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Warden Walker gave the Massachusetts Department of Correction 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Warden Galen Carter Walker 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 MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Massachusetts Department of Correction, 13 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Galen Carter Walker's cause is highlighted.
How Galen Carter Walker Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Galen Carter Walker is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Galen Carter Walker was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Massachusetts Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
