Jose Rivera served in the U.S. Navy.
Location: California
Weapon: Edged weapon; Shank
Offender: Sentenced to life
Correctional Officer Jose Rivera was stabbed to death by two inmates at United States Penitentiary Atwater in Atwater, California. The inmates stabbed Officer Rivera with homemade knives as he was locking cell doors in preparation for the 4:00 pm headcount.
Other officers immediately responded to the location and restrained both suspects. Officer Rivera was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds several hours later.
One inmate, serving a life sentence for a third robbery, was convicted of murder and received a new life sentence. The other inmate, serving a life sentence for murder, is to be tried in April of 2015.
One of the inmates who murdered Officer Rivera had been implicated, but never charged, in the murder of Correctional Officer Douglas Mashburn of the Guam Department of Corrections on June 24th, 1987.
Officer Rivera was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for only 10 months.
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In tribute
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Correctional Officer Rivera served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
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