Roll of Honor
Incident
Corrections Sergeant Donald Bourne was killed when an inmate stabbed him at the Trenton State Prison (now known as New Jersey State Prison). Sergeant Bourne was guarding the prison mess hall when the inmate attacked him, stabbing him in the chest. Sergeant Bourne was taken to the hospital, where he died from his wounds. The inmate was charged with murder and sentenced to life in prison. The inmate was serving a 15-year sentence for armed robbery and had been transferred from Rahway State Prison (now known as East Jersey State Prison) to Trenton State Prison after stabbing an officer in Rahway. That officer recovered from his wounds. The subject who murdered Sergeant Bourne died on February 8th, 2013, after serving 40 years of his life term in the New Jersey State Prison. Sergeant Bourne served with the New Jersey Department of Corrections for 14 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-5822FF1B- 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.
Corrections Sergeant Bourne gave the New Jersey Department of Corrections 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Sergeant Bourne.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corrections Sergeant Donald Bourne 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 NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At New Jersey Department of Corrections, 16 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Bourne's cause is highlighted.
How Donald Bourne Compares
Offender Outcome
Deceased
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Bourne is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald Bourne was killed by edged weapon; shank.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from New Jersey Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
