Memorial held for TDCJ employees

MATTHEW HINOTE, 12, played taps and Chaplain Jerry Sheffiled lit a candle in memory of TDCJ employees who have died in the line of duty.

The Glen Ray Goodman Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice joined other units throughout the state in a memorial ceremony May 6 for TDCJ officers who have died in the line of duty.

"Aceremony such as this is a most fitting tribute to those brave souls who have died in the line of duty," said Warden Michael Davis.

This year's ceremony highlighted the bravery of Susan Canfield, a correctional officer with the Wynne Unit who died Sept. 24, 2007. She was one of seven officers on horseback supervising 76 inmates working in a vegetable field outside their unit.

"Another officer allowed an inmate to become too close to him. The inmate pulled this officer off his horse and to the ground," according to the memorial program.

This prompted the escape of two other inmates, and the account says, "One inmate was able to steal a city of Huntsville truck from the service center next door. The other inmate went after Canfield who was blocking the escape with gunfire and her horse.

Newsboy photos/ Sharon Kerr

"Officer Canfield was thrown into the windshield of the truck and then hit the ground with her head... (she) died at the scene."

The inmates escaped briefly but were captured a short time later.

Jasper County Sheriff Ronnie McBride assisted Warden Davis in planting a tree in the parking lot.