Roll of Honor
Susan Louise Canfield
Incident
Corrections Officer Susan Canfield was killed during an escape attempt of two inmates from a work crew at the Wynne Unit.
The two inmates were among a group of approximately 75 inmates working outside of the prison and being being supervised by seven officers on horseback. One of the officers observed an inmate with contraband and attempted to take it from him. As he did so, the inmate with the contraband and another inmate pulled the officer from his horse and disarmed him.
Both inmates fled to the adjacent Huntsville City fleet maintenance center on Highway 75 North and stole a flatbed truck. As Officer Canfield approached the truck on horseback the inmate intentionally struck her and the horse, causing her to suffer fatal injuries. Other officers exchanged shots with the two but did not shoot them. Both men were apprehended within two hours.
The subject who was driving the truck that struck Officer Canfield was sentenced to death in 2010. He was executed on December 3rd, 2013. The second inmate faces capital murder charges as of August 2012.
Officer Canfield had served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for seven years.
Survivors
She is survived by her husband, two daughters, son, two grandchildren, mother, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-4BB6364C- 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.
Corrections Officer Canfield gave the Texas Department of Criminal Justice 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corrections Officer Canfield.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corrections Officer Susan Louise Canfield 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, 31 of 124 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Susan Louise Canfield's cause is highlighted.
How Susan Louise Canfield Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Susan Louise Canfield is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Susan Louise Canfield was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
123 officers from Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
