Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama
End of Watch: Friday, September 16, 2016
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: September 1, 2016
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Shank
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Correctional Officer Kenneth Bettis succumbed to stab wounds sustained on September 1st, 2016, when he was attacked by an inmate at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama.
The inmate attacked and stabbed Officer Bettis in retaliation for being denied an extra food tray during the prison's lunch service.
Officer Bettis was flown to the University of South Alabama Hospital where he remained until succumbing to the stab wounds.
The inmate, 46, who had been serving a 20 year sentence for robbery since 2013, was charged with murder of Officer Bettis' death.
Officer Bettis was a combat veteran of the Alabama Army National Guard.