Roll of Honor
James B. Durnin
Incident
Principal Keeper James Durnin was stabbed by an inmate with a shank as he stood guard outside the prison mess hall at the Auburn State Prison.
The suspect was convicted of Keeper Durnin's murder and executed on August 9th, 1928.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-D2AC3DA2- 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.
Principal Keeper Durnin served with the New York State Department of Correctional Services.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Principal Keeper Durnin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Principal Keeper James B. Durnin 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. James B. Durnin's cause is highlighted.
How James B. Durnin Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1928
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James B. Durnin is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James B. Durnin was killed by edged weapon; shank.
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.
