Principal Keeper

George McKelvey

Felonious
End of Watch May 6, 1880
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 6 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Principal Keeper George McKelvey was stabbed and killed by an inmate at the Elmira Reformatory.

Keeper McKelvey entered the cell of an inmate to remove for disciplinary action. As he handcuffed the suspect, the suspect stabbed Keeper McKelvey in the heart with a knife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp9h23m4k5m9nd171867
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew George. 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

146 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Principal Keeper McKelvey 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.

— 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 May 6, 1880
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

The Sacrifice · Felonious

George 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1880, 38 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 147th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

George was 35. 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.

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

When

May holds 8% 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 edged weapon; knife, in 0.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

VI

Where

Principal Keeper George McKelvey

New York State Department of Correctional Services · End of Watch May 6, 1880

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-W

↑