Roll of Honor
John Claussen
Incident
Officer Claussen was stabbed to death by an inmate in the prison's print shop. The suspect was tried and acquitted October 29, 1954. Two Correctional Officers, who had witnessed the murder, each died of a heart attack a few days before the suspects trial began. The suspect was serving a double life sentence for the murder of a man and his wife in 1947. On June 7, 1966, he received another life sentence for stabbing a fellow inmate to death seven months earlier. He died in prison December 27, 2002.
Survivors
Officer Claussen was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NE-30408EB8- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Claussen served with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.
Thank you for your service to the Lincoln community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Claussen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer John Claussen is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 64.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Claussen's cause is highlighted.
How John Claussen Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Claussen is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Claussen was killed by edged weapon.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Nebraska Department of Correctional Services are honored on badge.nw.
