Roll of Honor
Herman Lester Toulson, Jr.
Incident
Officer Herman Toulson was stabbed to death at the Maryland State Penitentiary as he and another guard attempted to return several inmates to their cells. The guards were attacked with homemade knives, and Officer Toulson received fatal stab wounds. A second officer was also wounded in the attack. The suspect, a 25-year-old convicted murderer, was convicted of Officer Toulson's murder and sentenced to serve 66 years for the stabbing. Officer Toulson was a decorated United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Maryland Division of Correction for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three daughters, two sons, parents, two sisters, and four brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MD-853A7ADA- 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 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.
Officer Toulson gave the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Maryland, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Herman Lester Toulson, Jr. served in the Army (1967â1970) before joining law enforcement.
Officer Herman Lester Toulson, Jr. 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Division of Correction, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herman Lester Toulson, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Herman Lester Toulson, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 66 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herman Lester Toulson, Jr. is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herman Lester Toulson, Jr. was killed by edged weapon; shank.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Division of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
