Daniel James Nickerson

New York State Department of Correctional Services — Albany, NY

Felonious

End of Watch March 25, 1934

Age 45

Tour of Duty 4 yrs 4 mo

The Vigil Panel 67 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 35

Incident

Guard Daniel Nickerson was fatally stabbed by an inmate who had just attempted to stab another guard while being searched before taken to the prison's hospital at Clinton Prison. As the guard started to search him the man produced a clasp knife and lunged at him, inflicting a superficial wound on the guard's abdomen. Guard Nickerson and a third guard immediately came to the guard's assistance. Guard Nickerson was stabbed in the heart and killed instantly during the ensuing struggle. The third guard was also stabbed in the abdomen but survived the wound. The inmate was convicted of Guard Nickerson's murder and executed on February 21st, 1935. Guard Nickerson had served as a guard at the prison for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-92445165
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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.
Guard Nickerson gave the New York State Department of Correctional Services 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Nickerson.

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

Agency

Department New York State Department of Correctional Services

Location Albany, NY

Platform Identity nysdcscorr.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 25, 1934

Tour of Duty 4 yrs 4 mo

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Hatchet

Offender Executed in 1935

Guard Daniel James Nickerson 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At New York State Department of Correctional Services, 26 of 36 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.2% of this agency's fallen.

New York State Department of Correctional Services

of 36 officers

72.2% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious