Roll of Honor
Paul Krasenes
Incident
Correctional Officer Paul Krasenes, Sergeant Jere Graham, 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. Officer Krasenes was a United States Coast Guard veteran and had served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for over 22 years. It had been his day off, but he was called in.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three daughters, and his father.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-73C7C46A- 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 Krasenes gave the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 22 years.
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
Paul Krasenes served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Correctional Officer Paul Krasenes 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. Paul Krasenes's cause is highlighted.
How Paul Krasenes Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul Krasenes is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Paul Krasenes was killed by handgun; 9 mm.
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.
