Family, colleagues and first responders gather to remember area agent killed in the line of duty
In a year when the annual Guns and Hoses charity football game carried deeper meaning for many of the first responders on the field, the memory of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Parole Agent Joshua Byrd was placed front and center Saturday in Sacramento, as colleagues, former teammates and regional partners gathered to honor the parole agent killed in the line of duty in 2025.
Byrd’s family was recognized during a pregame ceremony at Heart Health Park, where they were presented with special memorabilia, including a signed helmet and football, in tribute to Byrd’s service and his connection to the event. Organizers and participants noted that Byrd had played in the same game two years earlier, making this year’s ceremony especially personal for many who returned to the field.
“This is a great event on multiple levels, but it hits a little closer to home this year after the loss of Agent Byrd, who played in this exact game two years ago,” said Bryan Bishop, director of CDCR’s Division of Adult Parole Operations. “We are out here to honor him today, honor his family and honor his legacy.”
CDCR said Byrd served the department for 11 years as a correctional officer and later as a parole agent. He was shot July 17, 2025, while inside the Oakland Parole Office, and CDCR said he was honored by the governor and first responders across the country. On Saturday, law enforcement partners from throughout Northern California joined in recognition of their fallen colleague and teammate.
California Medical Facility Correctional Officer Will Jacobson, identified by CDCR as Byrd’s former coworker and teammate, honored him during the game by wearing Byrd’s jersey.
“The biggest thing about Byrd is he was a great family man, and he treated everyone like they were family,” Jacobson said. “Just about every officer out here has known someone that lost their life in the line of duty. It really hits different when it happens to someone you know and it makes today even more special.”
Before the game, CMF Warden Sircoya M. Williams said the outpouring of support for Byrd reflected both local and national solidarity among public safety agencies.
“Agent Byrd has been receiving support all over the nation, locally as well as from other law enforcement agencies,” Williams said before the game. “It makes us remember that people respect that we put our lives on the line.”
Williams added that the scale of the tribute would likely have resonated deeply with Byrd.
“Agent Byrd was a very humble person, pretty quiet guy, but I’m sure his heart would be filled and warmed to see how many people care about him and how much he is missed,” Williams said.
On the field, CDCR said Team Fire Dogs won the game 3-0, a defensive struggle that ended with a late stand as time expired. Yet for many in attendance, the score was secondary to the broader purpose of the long-running event and the message of community support it represents.
“Obviously the game is a great opportunity for the community to celebrate the first responders,” Bishop said. “It shows the value that our community places on law enforcement.”
Now in its 52nd year, Guns and Hoses is among the longest-running charity events in California involving law enforcement and fire agencies. The annual football game brings together local first responders and community members in a setting intended to strengthen relationships while raising money for local causes. CDCR said the event has raised more than $1.75 million for dozens of charities since the first game in 1975.
For those who knew Byrd personally, Saturday’s gathering was also a reminder of the human bonds behind the uniforms — and of the lasting impact of a colleague remembered for his quiet presence and his devotion to family.
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