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William E. Donaldson
Incident
Correctional Officer William Donaldson was stabbed to death by a prisoner at the West Jefferson Correctional Institute when he entered a segregation unit to dispense medicine.
The suspect who murdered Officer Donaldson had been originally sent to prison for the shooting death of Fairfield Police Officer Myron Massey in 1985 during a traffic stop. Some time after murdering Corrections Officer Donaldson the suspect committed suicide.
The West Jefferson Correctional Institute was later renamed in honor of Officer Donaldson.
Survivors
Officer Donaldson was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Correctional Officer Donaldson served with the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Alabama. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Donaldson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Alabama Department of Corrections has lost 11 officers; 7 of them killed feloniously.
William is one of 405 officers killed feloniously in AL, 63% of the 643 remembered there.
William is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
William is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1990, 1 officer at Alabama Department of Corrections was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 6 years on record. The heaviest was 1974, with 2.
In 1990, 1 officer in AL was killed feloniously, the 95th heaviest of 131 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 10.
In 1990, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1990, 104 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 59th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 27. Of the 7 killed feloniously at Alabama Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 62; the middle age was 53.
William was 27. Of the 344 killed feloniously in AL whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 49; the middle age was 40.
William was 27. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
William was 27. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
January holds 28.6% of these deaths at Alabama Department of Corrections, more than any other month. Fridays: 42.9%.
January holds 9.4% of these deaths in AL; September holds the most, 9.9%. Fridays: 14.6%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 63.6% of all 11 deaths at Alabama Department of Corrections, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 57.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63% of all 643 deaths in AL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.5% 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 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2% of these deaths.
His people
Alabama Department of Corrections has 11 officers remembered here, William among them.
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Archie Brown Boutwell
Dec 10, 1957
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Robert E. Kendrick Mar 23, 1971
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Luell Wheeler Barrow
Jan 18, 1974
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Luther Franklin Fails
Mar 12, 1974
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William E. Donaldson
Jan 12, 1990
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Charles Andrew Farquhar, Jr.
Oct 23, 1994
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William Fredrick Immer
Jul 4, 1997
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Teresia Wheeler
Oct 1, 2001
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Elizabeth Franklin
Dec 7, 2007
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Rodney Kelley
Oct 3, 2008
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Kenneth Levella Bettis
Sep 16, 2016
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Alabama Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
