Richard J. Lewis

New York State Department of Correctional Services — Albany, NY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 13, 1971

Age 42

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 35

Incident

Correctional Officer Richard Lewis died from injuries sustained in a prison riot at the Attica Prison. Six other correctional officers were also killed during the riot. The leader of the riot was never charged with any crime. After his release from prison, he shot and killed Police Officer Norman R. Cerullo and Police Officer Christie D. Masone of the New York City Police Department on April 2, 1978, on a Brooklyn Street. Officer Lewis was a United States Army Korean War veteran and had served with the New York State Department of Correctional Services for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, brother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-EC33B049
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Correctional Officer Lewis gave the New York State Department of Correctional Services 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department New York State Department of Correctional Services

Type Corrections

Location Albany, NY

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

Service Record

End of Watch September 13, 1971

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Not available

Military Service

Richard J. Lewis served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Correctional Officer Richard J. Lewis 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 NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

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

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious