Correctional Officer
Shawn Allan Burnell
Indiana Department of Correction
Sunday, October 18, 2020

Age: 29
Served: 3 years
Badge #:
Panel 12WT, Line 1 (2024)
Included (2024)

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 February 1, 2024, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused 1,180,042 deaths in the United States and 26,307 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. The pandemic has caused 874 known law enforcement officer deaths in the United States.

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Correctional Officer Shawn Allan Burnell - Indiana Department of Correction - INLEM.org