Roll of Honor
Edward L. Beckwith
Incident
Principal Keeper Edward Beckwith was stabbed to death by an inmate as he stood guard over 900 inmates in the Auburn State Prison mess hall. Two other prison guards standing nearby were able to wrestle the knife away from the inmate and take him into custody. The inmate had held a grudge against Keeper Beckwith for seven years, and had vowed to one day to "get him". The inmate was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. On September 26, 1930, he committed suicide on Sing Sing Prison's death row by strangling himself with a towel. Keeper Beckwith had served at the Auburn State Prison for 22 years.
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BO-US-NY-A0D8E03D- Stewardship
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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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Principal Keeper Beckwith gave the New York State Department of Correctional Services 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Principal Keeper Beckwith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Principal Keeper Edward L. Beckwith 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward L. Beckwith's cause is highlighted.
How Edward L. Beckwith Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward L. Beckwith is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward L. Beckwith was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from New York State Department of Correctional Services are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
