California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California
End of Watch: Thursday, September 11, 1997
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: 25 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: September 11, 1997
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Not available
Corrections Officer Paul Beridon and Corrections Officer Mylene Zalar were killed in a vehicle crash on California 108, between Oakdale and Jamestown, at approximately 3:45 am.
The officers were en route to the Sierra Conservation Center, in Jamestown, to conduct a prisoner transport when an oncoming vehicle crossed the center line and struck their department issued 1987 AMC Eagle station wagon head-on. Officer Beridon, who was driving, and Officer Zalar, who was sitting in the backseat, were both killed. A third officer in the front passenger seat suffered severe injuries but survived.