Fallen Dublin Deputy To Be Honored At Tree Lighting

DUBLIN, CA — Dublin Police Services will pay tribute to fallen sheriff's Deputy John Monego at a public tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 11, 23 years after he gave his life defending his community.

Monego, an Alameda County sheriff's deputy assigned to Dublin, remains the lone line-of-duty death in the city. He had been a deputy for nine years but worked in Dublin for eight months when he was ambushed and fatally shot Dec. 12, 1998, at the age of 33 while responding to what his partner believed to be a routine 911 hang-up call at Outback Steakhouse.

His partner, sheriff's Deputy Angela Dunakin — who died two years ago in a Yuba City car crash — was the first to arrive at the restaurant.

She was ambushed by three people who took her service weapon and held her hostage in the back of the restaurant with employees and customers. Three people eventually were arrested on suspicion of robbery and murder, and shooter Reuben Vasquez was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Monego died just before his favorite time of year, Christmas, his wife, Tammy Monego, told Patch last year.

Dublin Police Services honors his memory and holiday spirit each year with a tree lighting ceremony, though last year's event was virtual because of the pandemic.

In 2000, the Legislature passed a resolution to rename a portion of Interstate Highway 680 the "Officer John Paul Monego Memorial Freeway." A plaque there bears his name.

John Monego would have been 56 this year. A year before his death, he welcomed son Dominic Monego, now 24, who went on to pursue a career with the California Highway Patrol.

"He was a new dad, extremely happy to be a dad," said Tammy Monego, who was a CHP officer in Fresno when she met her husband. "Life was good — until it wasn't."

Read the full story: Fallen Dublin Deputy Honored: 'Life Was Good — Until It Wasn't'

John Monego was born Nov. 5, 1965, in Passaic, New Jersey, Tammy Monego previously told Patch. He moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1972 before arriving in Pleasanton. He graduated from Amador Valley High School.

He dreamed of becoming a firefighter but went on to work for the sheriff's office, where he served for nine years before his death. He was regarded as a compassionate and caring officer; one of John Monego's mentors at the jail nicknamed him "the preacher" because he was always counseling inmates and people he met on the street, encouraging them to strive for a brighter future, his wife said.

In its resolution to rename a portion of I-680, the Legislature called John Monego a devoted husband and father, "a consummate professional and deeply respected police officer, and, more importantly ... a friend to everyone" who showed "a willingness to always lend a helping hand."

You can pay tribute to John Monego's service at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at the tree lighting in the lobby of the Dublin Police Services building, 6361 Clark Ave. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.