End of Watch: July 17, 2025
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – Division of Adult Parole Operations
As we continue to honor the correctional professionals who made the ultimate sacrifice, we pause to remember Parole Agent Joshua Lemont Byrd of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Division of Adult Parole Operations. Although a year has passed since his End of Watch, his courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to service continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing him.
On July 17, 2025, Agent Byrd was tragically killed in the line of duty while serving at the Oakland Parole Office. He was 40 years old.
Joshua’s life was defined by service to others. Before joining CDCR in 2014, he served honorably in the United States Navy. During his eleven-year career with the department, he earned the respect of coworkers through his calm demeanor, integrity, and willingness to lead by example. He served at the California Medical Facility, promoted to Correctional Sergeant, worked with the Investigative Services Unit, served on the Honor Guard and rifle team, and proudly accepted a new challenge when he transferred to the Division of Adult Parole Operations in October 2024.
Beyond the uniform, Joshua was a devoted husband to his wife, Jessica, and a proud father to his three daughters. Friends remembered him as a man with a contagious smile, a quiet sense of humor, and an unwavering commitment to his family, his faith, and his fellow officers. Whether serving his community, mentoring coworkers, or volunteering in Sacramento’s annual Pig Bowl charity football game, Joshua lived a life centered on service and bringing people together.
Earlier this summer, the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation was deeply honored to recognize Agent Byrd during PROJECT XXXVII in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was our privilege to welcome Jessica and their daughters as correctional professionals from across the United States gathered to honor the five correctional officers and parole professionals who made the ultimate sacrifice in 2025. Standing together, we celebrated Joshua’s life, remembered his extraordinary service, and reaffirmed that neither he nor his family will ever be forgotten.
Agent Byrd’s death marked the first Division of Adult Parole Operations line-of-duty death in more than a century and the first California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation line-of-duty death since 2018. While those milestones underscore the significance of his sacrifice, they do not define his legacy. He will instead be remembered as a husband, father, veteran, mentor, friend, and dedicated public servant whose life reflected the very best of the correctional profession.
Please join us in continuing to remember Parole Agent Joshua Lemont Byrd. Keep Jessica, their daughters, his family, friends, and the entire California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation family in your thoughts and prayers.
At the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation, we remain committed to Taking Care of Our Own and ensuring that the sacrifices of our fallen heroes—and the families they leave behind—are never forgotten.