Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Officer John Mills was well liked by many inmates in Soledad which I was one of. It’s been 51 years and I still think of him and want his family to know he treated inmates well and I’m so very sorry he passed in the manner he did. I was released from prison the following year and never returned.

One that admired Mr Mills
Christian Man

October 20, 2021

There is a place somewhere for the pure evildoers who you faced heroically that day. Thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

July 21, 2020

Officer Mills,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of California. There is no tougher job in Law Enforcement than that of a Corrections Officer. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 16, 2020

Rest in peace Officer Mills.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 19, 2019

Rest In Peace Brother LEO. Thank you and your family for your sacrifice and service.

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

January 16, 2018

Lord, when it’s time to go inside,
That place of steel and stone.
I pray that you will keep me safe,
So I won’t walk alone.
Help me to do my duty,
Please watch me on my rounds.
Amongst those perilous places
And slamming steel door sounds.
God, Keep my fellow Officers
Well and free from harm.
Let them know I’ll be there too,
Whenever there’s alarm.
Above all when I walk my beat,
No matter where I roam.
Let me go back whence I came,
To family and home.

RIP We have the watch now

Correctional Officer 84804
California Dept.Of Corrections

July 5, 2016

"When a good man is hurt, all who would be called good must suffer with him.”

Euripides

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

September 18, 2015

John Mills was married to my nice Bernadette. His death is forever etched in my heart, time stood still. The day he died he had kissed his baby and Bernadette. That is all Bernadette could find comfort in! She got to tell him she loved him.

My wife and I were listening to a documentary about prison riots and his incident was mentioned. She found the articles on the internet and this website.

We want to say 'THANK YOU FOR ALL WHO SERVE IN THESE THANKLESS JOBS!!!

It is gratifying to find this memorial.

Rest in peace Jack- always Uncle Pancho

Art Estrada
Uncle

February 25, 2015

Officer Mills,
On today, the 45th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of California. There is no tougher job in Law Enforcement than that of a Corrections Officer. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 16, 2015

45 years ago today, January 16, 1970, Officer John Mills was murdered in Facility C, Y-Wing. Officer Mills' friends, family and co-workers called him Jack. Jack was well liked as evidenced by many of his schoolmates from Southern California attending the Highway Memorial Sign Dedication. Highway 101 from Gonzales to Soledad has been dedicated in his honor, as well as the three other officers murdered at CTF, as the CDC Correctional Officers Memorial Highway. The flags fly at half-mast in the memorial garden for you Officer Mills.

Jeff Soares

Associate Warden
CTF-Soledad

January 15, 2015

44 Years ago today, Officer John Mills was murdered in the line of duty at CTF-Soledad Prison. Our flags are flying at half mast in the memorial garden and we have placed flowers at the base of the memorial plaque in honor of Officer Mills.

Jeff Soares

Associate Warden
CTF-Soledad Prison

January 16, 2014

John Mills or, "Jack" as I knew him was my classmate at Pius X high school "62". He was a talented cartoon artist, mild mannered, and highly respected by all. I was honored to have had him as my escort for the Junior and Senior Proms. What a tragic loss for his wife. 7 month old son, and mankind.

Carole Longpre Corallino
H.S. classmate

September 18, 2013

Officer John Vincent Mills, you were remembered and honored on January 16, 2013, during a memorial ceremony held at the memory garden at CTF. I wish Bernadette or Michael could have been there but I can not locate them. It has been 43 years and you are not forgotten.

Jeff Soares

Associate Warden
CTF-Soledad Prison

January 17, 2013

Officer Mills Rest in Peace brother!

Correctional Officer SQSP
CDCR

January 17, 2012

Renenbering you on this forty-second anniversary. It bothers me that there are over 33,ooo correctional officers in California today yet there are only six reflections for you. I will never forget you or your sacrifice.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

January 16, 2012

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 40th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Your sacrifice was made so many years ago. Evil was, is, and will be a part of life just as goodness such as yours will also be present. The cycle of violence directed against correctional officers in the bloody early seventies began with your brutal murder.

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya, also former CO at SQ

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater

October 24, 2010

Rest in Peace, Officer Mills. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

June 8, 2009

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE, GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO LOVES YOU

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH

January 6, 2008

The sacrifices made by Officers Shull, Mills, and Davis, are most certainly not forgotten !

One of my closest friends is presently employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. I will take the mean streets of Southern California, any day over the thankless job he has. I send him E-Mails every day from this website regarding those who have been killed serving as he. I am hard on him and we participate in street fighting combatives to maintain a level of proficiency.

During the 1980's and 1990's, I met and spoke with many former CDC Correction Officers(CO's), some who are now employed by LAPD. I also met with many former inmates and participated in several radio shows with some of them. Being on patrol in the LA area it was not uncommon for me to make contact with many parolees who actually did time at Soledad and San Quentin during the time that these CO's made the ultimate sacrifice.

Law Enforcement personnel need to recognize that many of those incarcerated back in the 1970's are now being released and I am beginning to see some of that "old school" mentality returning to the streets. Today, the Black Panthers have become the New African Vanguard and while maintaining a visual during the Stanley "Tookie" Williams wake, I observed no less than 10,000 come to pay their respects. Although I do not agree with much contained, for anyone who wants a better idea what was in the minds of those responsible for the deaths of these CO’s, I highly recommend the following books:

1. THE MELANCHOLY HISTORY OF SOLEDAD PRISON, MIN YEE, HARPER’S MAGAZINE PUB. 1970.
2. BLOOD IN MY EYE, GEORGE JACKSON, BLACK CLASSIC PRESS 1972.
3. SOLEDAD BROTHER: THE PRISON LETTERS OF GEORGE JACKSON, 1970.

Maj M. B. Parlor
USMC / LAPD

July 23, 2007

REST I PEACE MY BROTHER..

C/O C. Miller
CDC Former Soledad Current WSP

January 20, 2005

Officer Mills,
As one LEO wrote in another fallen Officer's reflection, "No fallen officer should be without a reflection." I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of California for doing the toughest job there is in Law Enforcement-Corrections Officer.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

January 18, 2005