BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: ACR 62
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: Calderon
VERSION: 8/15/13
Analysis by: Mark Stivers FISCAL: Yes
Hearing date: August 20, 2013
SUBJECT:
Detectives Mike Lane and John Pierce Memorial Highway
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution designates a portion of State Route (SR) 72 in
the County of Los Angeles as the Detectives Mike Lane and John
Pierce Memorial Highway.
ANALYSIS:
The committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state
highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will
consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following
criteria:
The person being honored must have provided extraordinary
public service or some exemplary contribution to the public
good and have a connection to the community where the highway
is located.
The person being honored must be deceased.
The naming must be done without cost to the state. Costs for
signs and plaques must be paid by local or private sources.
The author or co-author of the measure must represent the
district in which the facility is located, and the measure
must identify the specific highway segment or structure being
named.
If the segment of highway is being named for a specific
individual or individuals, it must not exceed five miles in
length.
The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus
and be without local opposition.
The proposed designation may not supersede an existing
designation unless the sponsor can document that a good faith
effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the prior
designation.
ACR 62 (CALDERON) Page 2
This resolution designates the portion of SR 72 between Penn
Street and Costa Glen Avenue in the City of Whittier as the
Detectives Mike Lane and John Pierce Memorial Highway. The
resolution further requests that the Department of
Transportation erect appropriate signs upon receiving donations
from non-state sources to cover the costs.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose of the resolution . By naming a portion of SR 72 for
Detectives Lane and Pierce, this resolution seeks to
memorialize their sacrifice in the line of duty.
2.Contributions of Detective Lane . Mike Lane joined the
Whittier Police Department in January of 1968 as a cadet,
attaining the position of police officer in May of 1969. In
1973, Detective Lane was assigned to the Criminal Tactical
Unit and Major Crime Investigations Unit of the department's
Detective Division. From 1975 to 1977, Detective Lane was a
member of the Southeast Burglary Investigation Team, after
which he became a detective in the department's Investigative
Division, Narcotics Detail. On December 13, 1979, Detective
Lane was working undercover on a motorcycle theft
investigation attempting to buy back a stolen motorcycle from
a local outlaw motorcycle gang when the suspects confronted
him while he was still in his vehicle. The parties exchanged
shots, and Detective Lane sustained fatal injuries.
3.Contributions of Detective Pierce . After a stint in the
California National Guard, John Pierce joined the Whittier
Police Department in October of 1967 as a uniformed patrol
officer. During the early 1970s, Officer Pierce served as a
liaison officer in the Whittier Police Explorer Post. In
1973, Detective Pierce was promoted to the department's
Investigative Division and assigned to narcotics and vice. He
later served on the department's SWAT Team. In 1976,
Detective Pierce attained the rank of agent and began serving
as a training officer in the Investigative Division. On
September 21, 1976, while working an undercover investigation
regarding the sale of narcotics, two subjects assaulted
Detective Pierce, who sustained serious injuries. These
injuries left him paralyzed from the neck down and ultimately
resulted in his death on May 18, 1977. In April 1977, the We
Tip organization named Detective Pierce a "California
Outstanding Narcotics Officer."
4.Consistent with committee policy . This resolution is
ACR 62 (CALDERON) Page 3
consistent with all the provisions of the committee's policy
on highway designations.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: Voice vote
Appr: 17-0
Trans: 15-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday, August
14, 2013.)
SUPPORT: City of Whittier
OPPOSED: None received.