Josephine Birdene McCallum

Michigan Department of Corrections — Lansing, MI

Felonious

End of Watch March 24, 1987

Age 26

Tour of Duty 4 mo

The Vigil Panel 132 ›

Gender Female

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 14

Incident

Officer Josephine McCallum was raped, strangled, and beaten to death by an inmate while on duty at the Southern Michigan State Prison. Her body was found at the bottom of a stairwell. An inmate serving 18 to 40 years for kidnapping, criminal sexual conduct, and armed robbery was charged with her murder. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. She was survived by her husband and son. In November 2018, I-94 between Exits 140 and 141 was renamed Correctional Officer Josephine McCallum Memorial Highway.

Survivors

She was survived by her husband and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-C88E7DC0
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.
Correctional Officer McCallum served with the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Michigan. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer McCallum.

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

Agency

Department Michigan Department of Corrections

Location Lansing, MI

Platform Identity michcorr.ingham.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 24, 1987

Tour of Duty 4 mo

Age 26

Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Offender sex offense

Correctional Officer Josephine Birdene McCallum 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Michigan Department of Corrections, 9 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Michigan Department of Corrections

of 15 officers

60% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious