Jere Patrick Graham

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation — Sacramento, CA

Felonious

End of Watch August 21, 1971

Age 39

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 41

Incident

Sergeant Jere Graham, Correctional Officer Paul Krasenes, and Correctional Officer Frank DeLeon were shot and slashed to death during a prison uprising when a civil rights lawyer smuggled a 9 mm pistol and two magazines 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. The prisoners also murdered two jail trustees. 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. Six prisoners were charged with the officer's murders. After a 16-month trial, only one was convicted of murder. He was paroled in 1988. Three were acquitted, and the other two were found guilty of assault. Only one remained in prison. He murdered Correctional Officer Robert J. McCarthy on March 4, 1971. He was stabbed to death during a prison riot at Folsom Penitentiary on August 12, 2015. Sergeant Graham had served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 11 years and previously served with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, four children, and one grandchild.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-3999F4ED
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Jere. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Graham gave the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Graham.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity cdcrcorr.sacramento.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 21, 1971

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; 9 mm

Offender Shot and killed

Sergeant Jere Patrick Graham is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 30 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

of 42 officers

71.4% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious