10/22/1983
Correctional Officer Robert L. Hoffman – October 22, 1983 United States Department of Justice – Federal Bureau of Prisons, United States Penitentiary Marion, Illinois. Officer Hoffman was stabbed to death by an inmate. Officer Hoffman and two other officers were escorting an inmate from the recreation cage back to his cell when another inmate slipped him a shank. The inmate then attacked and began to stab the officers. Officer Hoffman dragged one of the officers to safety after he was stabbed and then returned to the tier to save the second officer who was still under attack. As Officer Hoffman came to the rescue of the second Officer, the inmate stabbed him as well. Officer Hoffman was able to rescue the second officer also before collapsing into the arms of his son, who was also a corrections officer at the facility. Because of Officer Hoffman’s heroic actions neither of the other officers died of their wounds. Officer Hoffman is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.