Prev
Incident
Sergeant John Dennard was killed when he was stabbed with a shank by two inmates who attacked him and other guards in the main housing unit at Union Correctional Institution. He was flown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Three other guards who suffered stab wounds recovered from their injuries. Both inmates were convicted of first-degree murder. One was sentenced to death but later had his sentence commuted to life. The other suspect was sentenced to life. In 2000 he received a new trial. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years.
Survivors
Sergeant Dennard was survived by his mother, brother, and six sisters, 14 nieces and six nephews.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmt3t9h79gen455ms1nn- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Dennard served with the Florida Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Florida. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Dennard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Florida Department of Corrections has lost 33 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.3% of the 1,006 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1983, 1 officer at Florida Department of Corrections was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1983, 7 officers in FL were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 143 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 10.
In 1983, 106 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 47th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1983, 128 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 29. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Florida Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 32.5 and 49; the middle age was 40.
John was 29. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36.
John was 29. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
John was 29. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
May holds 9.1% of these deaths at Florida Department of Corrections; June holds the most, 27.3%. Thursdays: 9.1%.
May holds 9% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Thursdays: 14%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 33.3% of all 33 deaths at Florida Department of Corrections, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 27.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.3% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 1.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2% of these deaths.
His people
Florida Department of Corrections has 33 officers remembered here, John among them.
-
James G. Godwin
Apr 4, 1955
-
Howard Daniel Starling
Jul 4, 1964
-
Lester B. Sumner
Apr 26, 1965
-
James W. Parr, Sr.
Aug 11, 1966
-
Paul Jordan
Jan 24, 1976
-
Lauriston F. Hustus, Jr.
Jul 16, 1980
-
Richard James Burke
Oct 12, 1980
-
Bjorn Thomas Svenson
Aug 31, 1982
-
Donald L. Pawlizak Apr 21, 1983
-
John S. Dennard
May 5, 1983
-
Michael Peter Serano
Jan 6, 1984
-
Fred Sidney Griffis
Jun 24, 1987
-
Hoyt L. Ergle
Dec 15, 1987
-
Charles Andrew Cooper
Sep 15, 1988
-
Kenneth M. Hendrick
Jan 28, 1993
-
Lee Charles Dunn
Jan 24, 2000
-
Darla Kay Lathrem
Jun 11, 2003
-
Donna Fitzgerald
Jun 25, 2008
-
Adam Michael Sanderson
Mar 6, 2009
-
Gregory Guy Malloy
Feb 2, 2011
-
Ruben Howard Thomas, III
Mar 18, 2012
-
Jorge Ramos
May 1, 2016
-
Joseph Ossman
Sep 10, 2017
-
Tawanna V. Marin
Jun 18, 2018
-
Nicklaus Dustin Knight May 12, 2019
-
Robert Wayne Rogers
Jul 31, 2020
-
Jack Sale Stewart
Feb 13, 2021
-
William Scott Fox
Mar 4, 2021
-
John Annarumma
Mar 6, 2021
-
Derek Stewart
Apr 28, 2021
-
Whitney Nicole Cloud
Aug 28, 2021
-
Kelly Jo Klimkowski
Sep 28, 2021
-
James Alexander Jackson
Aug 15, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Florida Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
