Principal Keeper

James B. Durnin

Felonious
End of Watch November 17, 1927
The Vigil Panel 54 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Principal Keeper James Durnin was stabbed by an inmate with a shank as he stood guard outside the prison mess hall at the Auburn State Prison.

The suspect was convicted of Keeper Durnin's murder and executed on August 9th, 1928.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Principal Keeper Durnin served with the New York State Department of Correctional Services.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Principal Keeper Durnin.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Albany, Albany County, NY
Platform Identity nysdcscorr.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 17, 1927
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1927, 220 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

New York State Department of Correctional Services has 36 officers remembered here, James among them.

V

Where

Principal Keeper James B. Durnin

New York State Department of Correctional Services · End of Watch November 17, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-W

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