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Saturday marks 22 years since Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Deputy John Paul Monego died in the line of duty in Dublin, and to acknowledge the somber occasion and honor his memory, Dublin Police Services is holding a virtual memorial tree lighting this weekend.
Monego, who was the first law enforcement officer slain in the line of duty in the city’s history, was fatally shot while responding to a late-night robbery in progress at the Outback Steakhouse on Regional Street.
A Brentwood resident and 13-year sheriff’s deputy assigned to DPS at the time, Monego, 33, left behind a wife and toddler son.
DPS Capt. Nate Schmidt told the Weekly that it is important for the department to continue its annual tradition of honoring Monego’s “ultimate sacrifice,” even if the memorial tree has to shift to an online ceremony because of the COVID-19 pandemic and health order.
“Deputy Monego made this sacrifice while serving the community in which he loved. It is important that we come together every year to ensure Deputy Monego’s sacrifice and service is never forgotten,” Schmidt said.
“This year marks 22 years since Deputy Monego was mercilessly killed in the line of duty,” the captain added. “Although we can’t physically all come together due to the pandemic, it is important we still honor Deputy Monego and never forget his commitment to his duty. Deputy Monego left us not only as a protector of the community, but as a partner, a father, a husband and a son.”
Monego responded to a 9-1-1 hangup at the restaurant near Interstate 580 late at night on Dec. 11, 1998 — but unbeknownst to him, the hangup call had actually come during a strong-arm robbery with hostages in progress.
Monego was the second deputy to arrive on scene; the first deputy had gone inside the restaurant to investigate but she was overpowered by three robbers, who then took her gun, according to the “Officer Down Memorial Page,” which honors law enforcement personnel killed on duty nationwide and retells their stories.
As Monego approached the front door, an armed robber opened fire through a glass window, striking the deputy in the chest just above his protective vest. As Monego fell, the shooter walked outside and shot the deputy five more times at close range.
The robbers all fled the scene. Monego was transported to a local hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Dec. 12, 1998.
The culprits were later arrested after a short pursuit. Each would be convicted of various counts at trial.
DPS’s “Virtual John Monego Tree Lighting Ceremony” is set to be held via Zoom on Saturday (Dec. 12) at 6 p.m. To learn more, visit dublin.ca.gov.
I’ll never forget that night. I worked the 3-11:30 shift at Eden Hospital in Castro Valley. As I walked to my car in the parking lot a Sheriff Deputy’s car came screeching into the lot, very close to where I was walking. I thought it was going to jump the curb. I found out later that one of their brothers had been shot and they were understandably shaken. I have a couple of Sheriff Deputies in my family who are very fine men. I can’t imagine…….R.I.P. Officer Monego.