Roll of Honor
John V. Mills
Incident
Correctional Officer John Mills was beaten to death at Soledad Prison by three inmates in retaliation for the deaths of three inmates the previous week. His body was found in the Y Wing, which was a medium security cell block and had been locked in with 95 other prisoners. A few months later, on July 23, 1970, Correctional Officer William Shull was stabbed to death in retaliation. On July 21, 1971, Officer Leo Davis was stabbed to death at the San Quentin State Prison while guarding a prisoner who was a witness to Officer Shull's murder. Three inmates were attempting to gain access to the prisoner's hospital cell to murder him and attacked Officer Davis in an attempt to get his keys. All three inmates were charged with first-degree murder. Two of the inmates were tried and acquitted in March of 1972. The evidence revealed that it was the third inmate who killed Officer Mills. That inmate, who was awaiting his trial at San Quentin, was shot and killed by a guard during a prison riot on August 21, 1971. The riot, which he was personally responsible for starting, resulted in the deaths of three Correctional Officers: Officer Frank Deleon, Sergeant Jere Graham, and Officer Paul Krasenes. Officer Mills was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 14 months. He had recently been assigned to the Y Wing of the prison.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, mother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-1A587CA5- 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.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Correctional Officer Mills gave the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of California, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John V. Mills served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Correctional Officer John V. Mills 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John V. Mills's cause is highlighted.
How John V. Mills Compares
Offender Outcome
Later shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John V. Mills is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John V. Mills was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
41 officers from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
