Roll of Honor
Richard Ochoa
Incident
Correctional Officer Richard Ochoa was bludgeoned to death while working at San Quentin State Prison. Officer Ochoa was found unconscious with head injuries by another guard who sounded a whistle. He was rushed to the prison hospital but died a short time later. Three inmates were suspected of attacking him with a weightlifting bar. On June 10, 1976, an inmate, 36, was charged with his murder. On January 31, 1977, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. His sentence would begin at the conclusion of a 6 to 20-year term for attempted robbery and a year-to-life term for assaulting a guard. The inmate became violent after he was forced to wear a jacket that had the word "SNITCH" on the back of it. This was not known until after the inmate's trial. Officer Ochoa had served at San Quentin State Prison for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-0BAC7D15- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Ochoa gave the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Ochoa.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Richard Ochoa 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. Richard Ochoa's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Ochoa Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Ochoa is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Ochoa was killed by blunt object.
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.
