Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania
End of Watch Monday, February 11, 1924
Add to My HeroesJohn August Pieper
Deputy Warden John Pieper and Sergeant John Coax were shot and killed during an attempted prison escape at Western Penitentiary (modern-day SCI Pittsburgh).
The escape attempt started when a gas main exploded near the prison's front gates. In the ensuing panic of the prisoners fleeing towards the prison's yard, a guard was disarmed. The inmates used the weapon to shoot and killed Deputy Warden Pieper and Sergeant Coax.
Local police and deputies responded to the prison and were able to prevent the escape and assisted with bringing the situation under control. Five inmates were charged with first-degree murder. Two were acquitted. Each of the other three was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder. One received the death penalty and was executed December 27th, 1926.
Bio
- Age 35
- Tour 3 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Officer's weapon
- Offender Executed in 1926
Most Recent Reflection
View all 8 ReflectionsRest in peace always knowing no passage of time can ever erase your service and sacrifice.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)
February 11, 2021
Recent LODD Deaths

Chief Deputy Sheriff Jody Cash
Calloway County Sheriff's Office, KY
EOW: May 16, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Walter Jenkins
Rockdale County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: May 11, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Robert Adam Howard
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: May 11, 2022

Patrol Officer Brian Lee Sember
Ottawa Police Department, IL
EOW: April 3, 2022

Sergeant Nicholas W. Tullier
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, LA
EOW: May 5, 2022

Police Officer Darryl Wayne Fortner
Vestavia Hills Police Department, AL
EOW: April 6, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Nicholas D. Weist
Knox County Sheriff's Office, IL
EOW: April 29, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Douglas Warren Sanford
Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: March 29, 2022

Police Officer David Glen Evans
San Antonio Police Department, TX
EOW: February 25, 2022