Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia
End of Watch: Monday, June 3, 2002
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 1967
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: May 21, 2002
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Correctional Officer James Henderson succumbed to injuries sustained two weeks earlier when he was attacked and beaten by an inmate at the Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, Georgia.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 pm when he told the inmate to return to his cell for the night. Another officer was also injured when he came to Officer Henderson's assistance. The prisoner was working as an orderly at the time and was responsible for cleaning the cell block.
The inmate, serving a sentence for armed robbery, had already received a three-year extension as a result of several attacks on other guards. He was convicted of first-degree murder and received a life sentence with no possibility of parole.
Officer Henderson had been employed with the Georgia Department of Corrections for eight years. He is survived by his 10-year-old daughter.