James Michael Francke

Oregon Department of Corrections — Salem, OR

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 17, 1989

Age 43

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 134 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Corrections Director Mike Francke was stabbed to death in the Oregon Department of Corrections headquarters parking lot on Bittern Street in Salem. A former inmate of the prison system was convicted of his murder and sentenced to life in prison. In April 2019 he was released after a federal judge ordered that he be retried or released within 90 days. Director Francke was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Oregon Department of Corrections for six years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OR-ABE57363
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Corrections Director Francke gave the Oregon Department of Corrections 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oregon, 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 Oregon Department of Corrections

Location Salem, OR

Platform Identity odcorr.marion.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 17, 1989

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Released in 2019

Military Service

James Michael Francke served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Corrections Director James Michael Francke 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Oregon Department of Corrections, 10 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 90.9% of this agency's fallen.

Oregon Department of Corrections

of 11 officers

90.9% Felonious

OR — Statewide

115

of 197 officers

58.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious