20 years ago, Correctional Officer Manuel Gonzalez was stabbed to death by an inmate while working in Sycamore Hall of the California Institution for Men in Chino, California.

The suspect, who was appointed as a spokesman for a portion of the prison population, had been permitted to leave his cell to speak with other inmates about their complaints. A short time later, a correctional officer observed the inmate attacking Officer Gonzalez and ordered him to get down. The suspect then walked away as Officer Gonzalez fell to the ground. Officer Gonzalez, who was not wearing a vest, had been stabbed with a shank. He succumbed to his wounds while being transported to a local hospital.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation had not lost an officer in The Line of Duty in many years, but the tragic death of Correctional Officer Gonzalez brought to mind the oft quoted tribute to California’s Correctional Peace Officers, coined by Don Novey, the long tenured President of the California Correctional Peace Officers’ Association at the time. Without hesitation, Don would proclaim that his 30,000 members “walk the toughest beat in the State”. When challenged by some “street” or “line” peace officer, Don would typically invite them to trade places with one of his courageous constituents working within the walls of our prisons; constantly on the alert, watching their backs, victims of assaults unheard of on the “streets”, doing tougher time than the inmates. “So far, no takers”, Don would proudly announce.

Sadly, the circumstances surrounding the death of CPO Manuel Gonzalez gave rise to a number of questions being asked by fellow officers and members of the State Legislature. Why had he not been issued a protective vest in a timely fashion, a vest which might have saved his life? Why had inmate Blaylock, the convict who took Gonzalez life not been transferred to a more secure prison in a timely fashion, as required by Department guidelines?

Fellow officers praised Gonzalez as “a true professional who never lost his cool. He was always there to help a fellow officer”. A female CPO who had worked with Gonzalez said that he always made her feel secure. “He was very sure of himself. When he walked in, you knew he was in control”, she said.

Several significant safety changes were made following the stabbing of Officer Gonzalez. All officers who have contact with inmates are now required to wear stab-proof vests, and officials have changed the process by which potentially dangerous inmates are assigned to housing units.

Six months after his death, Officer Gonzalez’s brother-in-law, Deputy Sheriff Jerry Ortiz of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, was shot and killed while conducting a gang related investigation in an apartment complex.

Officer Gonzalez had served with the California Department of Corrections for 17 years. He is survived by his wife and six children. He is buried in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, Montebello, California.