Lance Corcoran, left, who was the face of the California Correctional Peace Officers' Association for several years, passed away Sunday night, according to the union.
A union activist for more than 20 years, Mr. Corcoran died at age 47 after a brief illness.
CCPOA just issued a press release, which you can read by clicking here.
Mr. Corocoran was an officer at the prison in Susanville, and later became the union's lobbyist, spokesman and executive vice president.
Mr. Corcoran's time in the public spotlight was often under a harsh glare. His job required speaking for CCPOA during its pitched labor fights with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2008, he was arrested for drunk driving in San Joaquin County.
Mr. Corcoran didn't shy away from that episode in conversations with the media and he always made himself available 24/7. He was particularly skilled at understanding what reporters needed and delivering a pithy quote. The Bee referenced Mr. Corcoran in 135 stories from 2006 through 2010.
And he didn't hesitate to call reporters if he thought that a story wasn't fair -- or well done. Late last year, before he was admitted to the hospital in January, Mr. Corcoran called me to talk about a state worker story in The Bee that he liked. He had been working on November election matters and, he said, hoped to get back to CCPOA duties soon.
"We'll get together," he said in his baritone voice before hanging up. "I'll call you when I'm back."
Photo: Lance Corcoran, Aug.7, 2006. Sacramento Bee/ Brian Baer
The Author
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.