Week in Review: Honoring Parole Agent Byrd

July 25, 2025

In this July 26 Week in Review, we honor Parole Agent Joshua Byrd who was tragically killed in the line of duty last week.

Department mourns slaying of Agent Joshua Byrd

CDCR Parole Agent Joshua Byrd, who served the department for 11 years, was shot July 17 in the line of duty while inside the Oakland Parole Office. Byrd was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. A suspect has been arrested by a team comprising several law enforcement partners.

Honoring Parole Agent Joshua Byrd, End of Watch, July 17, 2025.

Byrd, 40, dedicated more than a decade of his life to public service. He began his journey with the CDCR in June 2014 as a cadet at the Basic Correctional Officer Academy. He served honorably as a correctional officer, rising to the rank of correctional sergeant in 2020.

Joshua Byrd, a slain parole agent, was taken from the coroner's office near Oakland to the funeral home in Sacramento while overpasses were lined with first responders and CDCR staff. — CDCR staff line an overpass as Parole Agent Joshua Byrd is transported to the funeral home near Sacramento.

Law enforcement and first responders turned out in force to pay their respects to Joshua Byrd, California’s first parole agent slain in the line-of-duty.

While his body was transported July 18 from the Bay Area coroner’s office to the funeral home near Sacramento, first responders lined the streets and overpasses. Meanwhile, on social media, condolences from across the state and beyond were posted in Byrd’s memory. Some came from as far away as Tennessee and Arkansas.

Dr. Briana Rojas, with CDCR’s Office of Employee Wellness, spoke with staff at the funeral home as they waited for Byrd’s procession to arrive.

Parole Supervision Week 2025 during time of profound loss

Parole Supervision Week 2025 comes during a time of profound loss for our department. Last week, Parole Agent Joshua Byrd was killed in the line of duty while carrying out his responsibilities. His death is a sobering reminder of the risks parole professionals face every day in service to others.

DAPO Parole Supervision Week 2025 with mourning ribbon over badge.

Your work is demanding, complex, and often dangerous. Yet across the Division of Adult Parole Operations, the Division of Rehabilitative Programs, the Board of Parole Hearings, and throughout CDCR, you continue to serve with professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to public safety.
This week, we recognize your service and honor the sacrifice that comes with it. We carry the memory of Agent Byrd with us and stand united in our shared mission to protect the public and support those working to rebuild their lives.
On behalf of the Division of Adult Parole Operations and the communities we serve, thank you for your courage, your dedication, and your continued service to the people of California.
Heather Bowlds, Director (A), Division of Adult Parole Operations

Governor Newsom proclaims July 20-26 Probation Services and Parole Supervision Week

As we celebrate Probation Services and Parole Supervision Week, we recognize the dedication and heroism displayed by community corrections professionals. With unwavering commitment to professionalism, integrity, and strength, they navigate a challenging and often hazardous work environment.

This week, we honor the tireless work parole and probation officers do to build trust and instill hope within our communities. Through tailored supervision and services that address the unique needs of individuals, they keep communities safe by providing justice-involved individuals with the accountability, support, services, and tools necessary to reintegrate safely and successfully into society.

From conducting home visits and administering drug tests to facilitating counseling sessions, working with crime victims, and assisting with housing and employment opportunities, parole and probation agents possess the expertise necessary to offer comprehensive support to all individuals impacted in the community.

To all the dedicated community corrections professionals, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for the time you have devoted to public service. Your unwavering contributions serve as the steadfast pillars of our public safety systems.

Governor Gavin Newsom

In the Media

Procession for parole officer shot in Oakland

NBC news footage of procession for Parole Agent Byrd

A procession was held Friday afternoon to honor Joshua Byrd, a parole officer fatally shot in Oakland.

Byrd, 40, was a member of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) since 2014. The suspected gunman, identified as 48-year-old Brian Keith Hall, has been arrested.

CBS News headline: Community Mourns Loss of Parole Agent with Sacramento Ties

A beloved parole agent with strong ties to Sacramento is being remembered not only for his dedication to public service but also for the profound impact he had both through his work and through the game he loved.