Darren Monahan : Former Prison Guard At "Old Skool" San Quentin

Lieutenant Monahan started his law enforcement career with the California Department of Corrections. He worked as a prison guard at San Quentin State Penitentiary for 7 years prior to joining the Richmond Police Department in January of 1994. He worked there when names like Charles Manson and Richard Ramirez were housed there and has some amazing personal interactions he shared with me on this podcast.Lieutenant Monahan graduated from the Los Medanos Police Academy in May of 1994 with high honors and he worked as a "beat cop" until he was selected in September of 1997, to be a member of the elite street enforcement team - RPD's Metro Team. In January of 2000, Monahan was selected for yet another coveted position - detective in the Narcotics and Vice Unit. He spent several years in that unit until he was promoted to the rank of sergeant in January of 2006. Monahan's first assignment was to supervise the department's Code Enforcement Unit. He worked hard in creating a Code Enforcement team that had a solid foundation to pass onto a civilian manager. That he did. Our Code Enforcement Unit's successes today is due in part to Monahan's efforts. In June of 2009, Monahan's skills were needed in the department's Special Investigation Services (SIS) Unit. He was transferred to that unit as a supervisor until he was promoted in January of 2013 to the rank of lieutenant. Lieutenant Monahan worked as a Watch Commander until July of 2014 when he was again transferred to the Special Investigations Services (SIS) to manage that unit. Monahan remained in that assignment until his retirement date of December 17, 2015.