Roll of Honor
Incident
Keeper Michael Doran was beaten to death by an inmate at the Eastern Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The prisoner had become upset with Keeper Doran after being administered nauseating drugs that had been prescribed by the prison physician.
On the day of the attack, Keeper Doran had entered the prisoner's cell to take him to the exercise yard when the prisoner suddenly attacked him with a wooden bobbin. He continued to beat him over the head with an iron bar.
Another keeper found Keeper Doran's body inside the prisoner's cell a short time later.
The prisoner was convicted of Keeper Doran's murder and sentenced to death. He was executed by hanging in the Philadelphia County Prison on July 16th, 1885.
Keeper Doran was survived by his wife and six children.
Survivors
Keeper Doran was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-3BF35602- 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
142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Keeper Doran served with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Pennsylvania. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Keeper Michael Doran 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, 13 of 18 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. Michael Doran's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Doran Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1885
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Doran is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Doran was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Pennsylvania Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
