BILL ANALYSIS Ó
ACR 16
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 8, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
ACR 16 (Hagman) - As Introduced: February 12, 2013
SUBJECT : Gerald "Blackie" Sawyer Memorial Highway
SUMMARY : Designates a segment of State Route (SR) 39 in the
City of La Mirada as the Gerald "Blackie" Sawyer Memorial
Highway. Specifically, this bill :
1)Recounts the life and career of Gerald "Blackie" Wayne Sawyer,
a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, who
tragically lost his life in the line of duty for which he was
awarded a Medal of Valor.
2)Designates a segment of SR 39 (Beach Boulevard) in the City of
La Mirada, between Hillsborough Drive and Stage Road (just
over two miles in length), as the Gerald "Blackie" Sawyer
Memorial Highway.
3)Requests the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to
determine the cost of appropriate signs, consistent with the
signing requirements for the state highway system, showing the
special designation and, upon receiving donations from
non-state sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
EXISTING LAW : Assigns Caltrans the responsibility of operating
and maintaining state highways. This includes the installation
and maintenance of highway signs.
FISCAL EFFECT : Costs to make and erect the appropriate signs
are covered by donations.
COMMENTS : On November 6, 1973, Detective Gerald Sawyer was shot
and killed while working in a joint undercover investigation
with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. His
death in the line of duty led to his receiving the Medal of
Valor. It also resulted in a training film that has since
ACR 16
Page 2
improved the safety of other peace officers. Detective Sawyer
served the Los Angeles Police Department for ten years and left
behind his parents, a wife, two children, and a brother.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Janet Dawson / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093