On August 21, 1971, Officer Paul Krasenes, 52, was killed during a violent uprising at San Quentin State Prison in California. According to accounts of the disturbance, a civil rights lawyer smuggled a 9 mm pistol and two magazines to a prisoner, who hid the weapon in an afro wig. After a guard grew suspicious, the prisoner produced the gun, loaded it, and forced guards to release 26 inmates. Those inmates then attacked the guards; six had their throats slashed and three were shot, including Officer Krasenes. The bodies were later stacked in the cell of the inmate who started the disturbance, who was shot and killed by responding officers.

Six prisoners were charged in the officers deaths; following a 16-month trial, one was convicted of murder and later paroled in 1988, three were acquitted, and two were found guilty of assault. Officer Krasenes had served eight years with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Does anyone have further information about Krasenes service or remembers him from that period?