Thousands pay respects to slain Pa. CO
Gov. Tom Wolf called Sgt. Mark Baserman a loving son and community servant
By Corrections1 Staff
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Thousands attended a memorial service to honor a Pennsylvania corrections officer who was beaten to death.
The Somerset Daily American reports that attendees from across the country gathered to remember Sgt. Mark Baserman. On Feb. 15, Baserman was attacked by inmate Paul Jawon Kendrick after the officer confiscated a towel from him. Baserman died 11 days after the attack.
Memorial Service for Pa. state corrections Sgt. Mark Baserman held at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown sports complex. @tribunedemocrat pic.twitter.com/b4DqMPhRBA
— Todd Berkey (@Berkeyphoto) March 7, 2018
More than 3,500 people attended the service, with about 1,500 being COs, according to WJAC-TV. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf called Baserman a loving son and community servant.
“Sergeant Mark Baserman, in doing his duty to our state prison system – just as he willingly served in the U.S. Army and committed himself as an emergency medical technician – made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of keeping others safe,” said Governor Wolf.
Baserman was the first state CO to be killed in the line of duty since 1979.
Kendrick, who’s already serving a life sentence for murder, was arraigned on homicide and assault charges earlier this week.
SCI Somerset officers arrive at Pitt-Johnstown arena flanked by fellow PADOC officers for memorial service for Sgt. Baserman. pic.twitter.com/3CB75d9Ck6
— PA Department of Corrections (@CorrectionsPA) March 7, 2018
Honor guard from at least 15 states, D.C. and Canada are welcoming busloads of corrections officers from SCI Somerset. The memorial service for Sgt. Mark Baserman is set to start around 11 a.m. @WJACTV pic.twitter.com/zIciIOnwuG
— Daniel Hamburg (@DHamburgReports) March 7, 2018
