Indiana Law Enforcement Memorial
Indiana Law Enforcement Memorial Dedicated to Honoring All of Our State's Fallen Officers

Correctional Officer
Shawn Allan Burnell
Indiana Department of Correction
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Age: 29
Served: 3 years
Panel 12WT, Line 1 (2024)
Included (2024)
Indiana Department of Correction

Incident Details

Cause of Death
Duty-related illness
Date/Time of Incident
Sunday, October 4, 2020
Incident to Death Duration
14 days
Incident Location
1946 West U.S. 40, Greencastle
Incident County
Putnam
Incident Township
Warren
Weapon Used
None
Suspect Disposition
None
Burial Place
Cremated
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   Correctional Officer Shawn Burnell died from complications after contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during an ongoing global pandemic.

   After becoming infected while on duty at the Putnamville Correctional Facility in Greencastle, he later passed away in Pontiac, Illinois.

   Correctional Officer Burnell, from Greencastle, was survived by his parents, Timothy and Shelly (née Perry); sister, Tina; half-brother, Shane Burnell; stepsister, Elyse Saltman; stepmother, Joy Burnell; grandmother, Betsy Burnell; and girlfriend, Abbie Freer.

Historical Notes

• Correctional Officer Shawn Burnell is the fourth of five Indiana line of duty deaths in 2020.
• He is the 15th line of duty death of the Indiana Department of Correction.
• His line of duty death is the third that has originated from Putnam County.
As of January 10, 2026, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused 1,237,779 deaths in the United States and 28,271 deaths in Indiana. From November 2020 through January 2021, the deadliest wave was responsible for 7,140 deaths with the highest occurring in December 2020 when 3,038 died statewide, at the same time two vaccines first became available to the general public. The pandemic has caused 885 known law enforcement officer deaths in the United States.

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Indiana Department of Correction
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