California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 16

Introduced by Assembly Member Hagman

February 12, 2013

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 16—Relative to the Gerald “Blackie” Sawyer Memorial Highway.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 16, as introduced, Hagman. Gerald “Blackie” Sawyer Memorial Highway.

This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway Route 39 (Beach Blvd.) in the City of La Mirada from Hillsborough Drive to Stage Road as the Gerald “Blackie” Sawyer Memorial Highway. The measure would also request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

Fiscal committee: yes.

WHEREAS, Detective Gerald “Blackie” Wayne Sawyer was
born on November 19, 1941, in the City of Los Angeles, California,
the eldest of two children, to Warren and Alice Sawyer; and

WHEREAS, In 1958, Detective Sawyer graduated from Excelsior
High School in the City of Norwalk, California, where he was a
very active student and played football; and

WHEREAS, In 1961, Sawyer married Rosella McFarland and
continued living in the City of Norwalk, California; and

WHEREAS, In 1963 Detective Sawyer began attending the Los
Angeles Police Academy, where he attained his ultimate desire by
becoming a proud member of the Los Angeles Police Department
where he served for 10 years; and

WHEREAS, In 1971, Detective Sawyer relocated to the City of
La Mirada, where he resided with his wife Rosella, son Brian, and
newborn daughter Christy; and

WHEREAS, In 1972, Detective Sawyer began coaching the La
Mirada Monarchs, a Pop Warner youth football team, leading them
to an undefeated championship season; and

WHEREAS, On Tuesday, November 6, 1973, Detective Gerald
Sawyer was shot and killed while working in a joint undercover
investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement
Administration. Detective Sawyer was shot by a cocaine trafficker
during an attempted robbery of a $144,000 flashroll; and

WHEREAS, The trafficker and an accomplice were arrested at
the scene by other narcotics detectives and charged with first degree
murder; and

WHEREAS, In 1974, Detective Sawyer was awarded the Medal
of Valor, the highest award given an officer, for his ultimate
sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, In the years following Detective Sawyer’s tragic
death, countless police officers and detectives nationwide have
been made safer because of the training film outlining his death;
and

WHEREAS, Detective Sawyer was survived by his parents
Warren Sawyer and Alice Sawyer, his wife, Rosella Sawyer, his
children, Brian Sawyer and Christy Sawyer, and his brother
Thomas Sawyer; and

WHEREAS, In honor of Detective Sawyer’s service and
sacrifice, it would be a fitting tribute to designate a portion of State
Highway Route 39 as the Detective Gerald “Blackie” Sawyer
Memorial Highway; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
portion of State Highway Route 39 (Beach Blvd.) from
Hillsborough Drive to Stage Road as the Detective Gerald
“Blackie” Sawyer Memorial Highway; and be it further

Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested
to determine the cost of appropriate signs 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 signs; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Chief Clark of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the
author for appropriate distribution.