Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado
End of Watch: Thursday, October 10, 1929
Age: 63
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 3, 1929
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Guard Goodwin died several days after being shot during a prison riot at the Colorado State Penitentiary in Canon City. He was shot through the lung and chest by a bullet from the gun of one of the leaders of the outbreak.
Guard Goodwin’s quick actions frustrated the convicts' attempt to break for freedom. He was stationed in Tower Number 1 at the southwest corner of the stonewall and threw away his keys and began firing when the attack started. He was shot and killed by the ringleader of the disturbance.
Prison officials credited Guard Goodwin's promptness in shooting down the ringleader with having stopped the spread of a general uprising by the 1,200 inmates.
Guard Goodwin was survived by his wife and four sons.