Officer Frank DeLeon
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California
End of Watch: Saturday, August 21, 1971

Biographical Info
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, August 21, 1971
Weapon Used: Handgun; 9 mm
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Officer DeLeon, Officer Jere Graham, and Officer Paul Krasenes were shot and slashed to death during a prison uprising when a civil rights lawyer smuggled a 9 mm pistol and two clips of ammunition to a prisoner at San Quentin Prison. The prisoner hid the pistol and magazines in his afro wig. When one of the guards became suspicious of the wig the prisoner ripped it off, loaded the handgun, and then held the guards at bay.

The prisoner forced the guards to free 26 inmates, who then proceeded to attack the guards. They slashed the throats of six guards and also shot three of them to death. All of the guards bodies were then stacked in the cell of the inmate who started the disturbance. Two jail trustees were also murdered by the prisoners.

The prisoner who started the uprising was shot and killed by responding officers. He was awaiting trial for the murder of Correctional Officer John V. Mills at Soledad Prison on January 16, 1970.

Related Line of Duty Deaths

Officer John V. Mills California Department of Corrections an..., CA EOW: Friday, January 16, 1970 Cause of Death: Assault

Sergeant Jere Graham California Department of Corrections an..., CA EOW: Saturday, August 21, 1971 Cause of Death: Gunfire

Officer Paul Krasenes California Department of Corrections an..., CA EOW: Saturday, August 21, 1971 Cause of Death: Gunfire