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Meet the Division of Adult Parole Operations Honor Guard

September 10, 2025

It all began at conference in 2023, where the newly appointed Director of the Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) Jason Johnson stood in a crowd of law enforcement leaders, watching a ceremony performed by an honor guard team that left a lasting impression.

A few months later, he witnessed the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and California State Prison-Solano honor guard teams pay their respect to a colleague at a funeral service.

As the DAPO Director then, Undersecretary of Operations Johnson was struck by their sharp uniforms, unwavering discipline and the quiet strength they projected.

He leaned over to someone next to him and said, “I need to establish an honor guard team for DAPO.”

In that moment, a vision began to form.

From inspiration to vision to action

Upon returning, Johnson facilitated the creation of a processional policy and the DAPO honor guard team. Six individuals stepped forward, each one raising their hand for purpose.

The team’s first official appearance came at a Basic Parole Agent Academy graduation in June 2025. Dressed in new uniforms and bearing the weight of their newly formed legacy, the honor guard stood tall, exhibiting symbols of dignity and excellence.

The team’s second appearance carried even deeper weight. When a parole agent was lost in the line of duty, the DAPO honor guard team stepped forward. Their presence during Honor Watch and the memorial was more than ceremonial. It was a solemn promise that no member of DAPO would be forgotten. Through their disciplined movements and silent tributes, they honored a fallen colleague with reverence and pride.

Today, the DAPO honor guard is more than a team. It is a standard, a calling, a symbol of what it means to represent the best of who we are. The vision is clear. To inspire others across the division to join the ranks and to raise their hands to not only serve, but to lead. The bar is high because to wear the uniform of the honor guard is to carry the legacy of all who came before, and all who will follow.

Johnson said, “I have to tip my hat to those individuals that were trailblazers, and had the courage, enough to help me carry out my vision.”

He expressed heartfelt thanks to each member of the honor guard for their unwavering dedication. He also thanked Honor Guard Commander Michael Trujillo for his outstanding leadership in bringing this vision to life by ensuring interviews, uniforms, practice and training were provided.