BILL NUMBER: ACR 16	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hagman

                        FEBRUARY 12, 2013

   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.