Senator Bob Archuleta Introduces Agent Joshua Byrd Memorial Act to Give Parole Officers More Tools in Emergency Situations.

Sacramento, CA – The Agent Joshua Byrd Memorial Act (Senate Bill 962), authored by Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera), will enhance safety and protection for rank-and-file parole officers by authorizing the installation of blue emergency response lights on their vehicles. Introduced in response to the tragic death of Agent Joshua Byrd and builds on existing policy within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) that allows managerial-level officers to utilize such equipment, SB 962 aims to extend similar protections to the rank-and-file parole officers who are most often on the front lines of potentially dangerous situations.

“The death of Agent Byrd in 2025 was a tragedy that could have been avoided, and my heart goes out to Agent Byrd’s family, friends, and fellow officers,” said Senator Archuleta. “My hope with SB 962 is to prevent such a loss from ever occurring again. I have worked with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association on this project for several years, and I am confident that this is the year we will get it over the finish line. Parole officers put their lives on the line every day in the interest of public safety. If blue lights are good enough for the managers and supervisors, why are they not good enough for the rank-and file?”

SB 962 is inspired by the tragic loss of Parole Agent Joshua Byrd, a rank-and-file parole officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty on July 17, 2025. Agent Byrd was shot by a parolee who became agitated during a visit to an Oakland parole office. Immediately after shots were fired, the parole office was locked down; this lockdown resulted in the requested ambulance being unable to enter the scene by providing transportation to Agent Byrd. Moreover, the parole office vehicles were not equipped with vehicle recognition lights or sirens, preventing Agent Byrd’s colleagues from being able to quickly transport him to the ambulance’s staging or the hospital itself.

“My husband Josh lost his life doing the job he loved, protecting the people of California,” said Jessica Byrd. “He was a veteran, a public servant, and the father of our three young daughters. After he was hurt, his colleagues did everything they could to get him help, but their vehicles had no way to signal other drivers on the road. I don’t want any other family to go through what ours has been through. SB 962 is a common-sense measure that gives parole agents the same basic safety equipment that other peace officers already carry. It won’t bring Josh back, but it could save someone else’s life.”

In January 2026, the Director of the Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (CDCR) issued a new policy authorizing the installation of “vehicle recognition lights and sirens” on DAPO vehicles. The policy includes requirements for use cases, training, and – most notably – authorized personnel. Specifically, the January 2026 policy allows only personnel within managerial classifications to operate DAPO vehicles equipped with these safety features. The Parole Officers’ branch of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association has been asking for blue lights on their vehicles for years. CDCR has consistently denied this request because of cost. Now, CDCR has issued a new policy allowing for some – but not all – parole officers to be issued blue lights on their vehicles, based almost exclusively on the officer’s work classification. Agent Byrd’s tragic death is just one example demonstrating the need for parole officers to be equipped with blue lights on their vehicles, especially when an officer is transporting someone who is suffering a medical emergency. When this happens, every second counts. SB 962 allows rank-and-file parole officers access to the same basic safety equipment as their managers and supervisors.

“Every day, California’s parole officers go into unpredictable situations to keep our communities safe,” said Neil Flood, president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association. “When seconds count, they need to be recognized as law enforcement on our roads. Blue lights are standard equipment for probation officers, DA investigators, park rangers, and campus police. There is no justification for denying frontline parole agents the same basic safety tool their own supervisors already have. SB 962 corrects that disparity. We owe it to our officers and to the public they serve.”

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Senator Bob Archuleta currently represents the 30th Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles County and Orange County. He is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, and a member of the following Standing Senate Committees: Budget and Fiscal Review Committee; Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee; Government Organization Committee; Transportation Committee; as well as the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management. Senator Archuleta also sits on the Senate Special Committee on International Sporting Events: Olympics and World Cup Soccer. Website of Senator Bob Archuleta: https://sd30.senate.ca.gov/