Correctional Officer Marcus Monzon, 28, of the California State Prison-Sacramento passed away unexpectedly on December 3, 2025, just 20 months after joining the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
A member of Cadet Academy Class 24-04, Marcus graduated from the Richard A. McGee Correctional Training Center in Galt in April 2024 and quickly became a respected presence on the facility’s B-Yard.
Born and raised in Elk Grove, Marcus attended Cosumnes Oaks High School before earning an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Sacramento City College. Colleagues recall his calm demeanor during tense incidents, his habit of bringing extra Gatorade for the shift, and the way he volunteered for the toughest posts without complaint, always with a quick smile and “I got you, partner.”
Marcus balanced the demands of custody work with a close family life; he was a devoted husband to his wife Ashley and proud father to their 2-year-old son and 6-month-old daughter. Weekends off were spent coaching his son’s T-ball team in the South Sacramento Little League and hosting Sunday barbecues where his smoked tri-tip became legendary among coworkers who were regularly invited.
In his brief off-duty hours, Marcus pursued his passion for classic muscle cars, restoring a 1972 Chevelle in his garage and taking it to weekend shows at the Sacramento Raceway. He was an avid fisherman on the Delta and rarely missed a Sacramento Republic FC match with his academy classmates, still wearing the same rookie grin from graduation day.
The CDCR has lowered flags to half-staff at CSP-Sacramento and the training center in Galt. A memorial fund has been established through the California Correctional Peace Officers Association to support Ashley and the children. Though Marcus Monzon wore the uniform for less than two years, his impact on the institution and the officers who stood post beside him will last far longer.
A public funeral service with full departmental honors is scheduled for December 11, 2025, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Elk Grove. The thin gray line feels heavier today without the young officer who carried it with quiet pride.