BILL NUMBER: ACR 71 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 30, 2003
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 5, 2003
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chu
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aghazarian, Bates, Benoit, Berg,
Bermudez, Bogh, Campbell, Canciamilla, Chan, Chavez, Cogdill, Cohn,
Corbett, Correa, Cox, Daucher, Dutra, Dutton, Dymally, Firebaugh,
Frommer, Garcia, Hancock, Harman, Haynes, Jerome Horton, Shirley
Horton, Keene, Koretz, La Malfa, La Suer, Laird, Leno, Levine,
Lieber, Liu, Longville, Lowenthal, Maddox, Maldonado, Matthews, Maze,
McCarthy, Montanez, Mountjoy, Mullin, Nakanishi, Nakano, Nation,
Negrete McLeod, Nunez, Oropeza, Pacheco, Pavley, Plescia, Richman,
Ridley-Thomas, Runner, Salinas, Samuelian, Simitian, Spitzer,
Steinberg, Strickland, Vargas, Wesson, Wolk, Wyland, and Yee)
MARCH 24, 2003
Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 71--Relative to El Monte
Police Officer Donald Ralph Johnston Memorial Highway.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 71, as amended, Chu. El Monte Police Officer
Donald Ralph Johnston Memorial Highway.
This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway
Route 10 as the El Monte Police Officer Donald Ralph
Johnston Memorial Highway. The measure also would request the
Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate
plaques and markers showing that special designation, and, upon
receiving donations from nonstate sources sufficient to cover the
cost, to erect appropriate plaques and markers.
Fiscal committee: yes.
WHEREAS, California Police Officer Donald Ralph Johnston was born
in Wichita, Kansas, on November 11, 1954, to parents Loren (Corky)
and Rosalyn Johnston; and
WHEREAS, When Don was four years old, his parents moved the family
to La Puente, California where his father Corky joined ranks of the
El Monte Police Department; and
WHEREAS, Officer Johnston graduated from La Puente High School in
1972, and became the proud father of a son Eric who later continued
the Johnston legacy with the El Monte Police Department; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, Officer Johnston became a reserve officer for
the City of El Monte until he became a full-time officer in 1988; and
WHEREAS, Officer Johnston was honest, brave, and hardworking, and
volunteered in the Adopt-a-Cop program at Wilkerson School; and
WHEREAS, Officer Johnston took his job seriously and was
considered a guidance counselor to his peers; and
WHEREAS, Officer Johnston met his wife Ruth at the West Covina
Calvary Chapel, and on September 1, 1989, they were married and began
a life together; and
WHEREAS, On January 9, 1990, Officer Johnston responded to a call
of a person trying to pass a bad check at a bank, and was shot and
paralyzed by the suspect after selflessly pushing a bystander out of
harm's way; and
WHEREAS, Officer Johnston was awarded the City of El Monte Medals
of Valor, Distinguished Service, and Purple Heart, received
commendations and awards from the United States Congress, Governor
Deukmejian, Governor Wilson, the California State Legislature, the
Office of Attorney General, the County of Los Angeles, the American
Police Hall of Fame, and numerous other local and national
organizations; and
WHEREAS, On January 29, 1991, Officer Johnston returned to work at
the El Monte Police Department in a wheelchair, and was assigned to
the Community Relations Unit as a detective handling missing persons
investigations, all the while continuing his community involvement by
mentoring disabled students; and
WHEREAS, In 1993, Officer Johnston secured a position as the first
regular police helicopter observer, and was able to experience the
excitement of street patrol once again. Officer Johnston's work was
so exceptional that he received many accolades for his service; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Officer Johnston developed the S.T.R.I.V.E
(Success Through Recognizing Individual Volition and Excellence)
program, and visited schools to tell his story and inspire students
to overcome their own obstacles; and
WHEREAS, After retiring from active duty on September 1, 2001,
Officer Johnston refused to quit, and with his letter of retirement,
submitted a request to stay with the El Monte Police Department as a
reserve officer, despite his declining health and chronic pain; and
WHEREAS, While Officer Johnston expressed gratitude to the City of
El Monte for enabling him to remain productive and thanked his El
Monte Police Department "family" for the support that made such a
difference in his life, the EMPD is grateful that Officer Johnston
was there to protect, to serve, and to inspire us all; and
WHEREAS, Officer Johnston passed away on November 22, 2002, at his
home in Canyon Lake in the presence of his wife Ruth, his son Eric,
and mother, Rosalyn; and
WHEREAS, It is fitting that the Legislature of the State of
California honor the memory of El Monte Police Officer
Officer Donald Ralph Johnston, and convey the Legislature's
appreciation of his life of public service as a law enforcement
officer on behalf of California; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby dedicates the portion
of State Highway Route 10 that is between the intersection with
State Highway Route 19 in the City of Rosemead, and the intersection
with State Highway Route 605 in the City of Baldwin Park, as the
El Monte Police Officer Donald Ralph Johnston Memorial
Highway; and be it further
Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to
determine the cost of appropriate plaques and markers, consistent
with the signing requirements, for the state highway system, showing
this special designation, and, upon receiving donations from nonstate
sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those plaques and
markers; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.