Guard

John J. Eeles

Colorado Department of Corrections — Colorado Springs, CO
Felonious
End of Watch October 3, 1929
Age 70
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 58 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Guard Eeles was killed during a prison riot. Guard Eeles had served with the agency for over 25 years and was the prison's executioner. Eight prison guards were killed when prisoners at the Colorado State Penitentiary rioted. A total of 2,000 rounds of ammunition were fired during the riot and large sections of the prison were destroyed by fire. In addition to the eight guards, the rioting prisoners also murdered two inmates. Three of riot's ringleaders committed suicide.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

25 years. You could have gone home.
Guard Eeles gave the Colorado Department of Corrections 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Eeles.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Colorado Springs, El Paso County, CO
Platform Identity cdcorr.elpaso.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 3, 1929
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 70
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Unknown weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1929, 205 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 70. 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 had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was unknown weapon, in 0.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Colorado Department of Corrections has 18 officers remembered here, John among them.

VI

Where

Guard John J. Eeles

Colorado Department of Corrections · End of Watch October 3, 1929

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 51-E

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