Remembering Deputy John Paul Monego

It was standing room only in the lobby Saturday for the tree lighting ceremony to honor fallen Dublin Deputy John Monego.

The ceremony was attended by his wife, Tammy, and son, Dominic, along with Dublin Police Chief Tom McCarthy, Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern, Vice Mayor Kevin Hart, City Councilman Eric Swalwell, representatives from the California Highway Patrol and many other current and retired command staff from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

There were a few tears and many smiles when Tammy Monego spoke about her husband and expressed her gratitude at the continued show of support.

One of the memorable quotes from the evening was, “We light this tree to tell you that we remember.”

Every year for the past 13 years, the community has come together to remember Deputy Monego and to reconfirm their appreciation of all emergency first responders who lay their lives on the line every day they put on the uniform.

On Dec. 12, 1998, Deputy Monego was responding to a 911 call at the in Dublin when he was shot numerous times after being ambushed by three suspects who had captured and were holding the first deputy who had arrived on scene inside.

Deputy Monego was the first police officer to die in the line of duty in Dublin. Monego had been an officer for nine years and had worked in Dublin for eight months when he was murdered.

His son, Dominic, was 18 months old at the time. Three suspects were arrested for the robbery and murder. The shooter, Reuben Vasquez, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.