BILL NUMBER: ACR 164	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Villines

                        MAY 17, 2010

   Relative to the Deputy Sheriff Joel B. Wahlenmaier Memorial
Highway.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 164, as introduced, Villines. Deputy Sheriff Joel B.
Wahlenmaier Memorial Highway.
   This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway
Route 168 in Fresno County as the Deputy Sheriff Joel B. Wahlenmaier
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 those costs, to erect those signs.
   Fiscal committee: yes.



   WHEREAS, Deputy Sheriff Joel B. Wahlenmaier of the Fresno County
Sheriff's Office was killed on February 25, 2010, while in
performance of his duties to the citizens he was sworn to protect;
and
   WHEREAS, Deputy Sheriff Wahlenmaier was born in Bakersfield and
raised in Fresno, attending local schools and Reedley College. Upon
joining the Fresno County Sheriff's Office in 1998, Deputy Sheriff
Wahlenmaier worked in the Patrol Division and as a detective assigned
to the Robbery/Property Crimes and Homicide units. He was also a
long-time member of the Sheriff's Search & Rescue Team. Deputy
Sheriff Wahlenmaier was a dedicated officer who served his community
and loved his profession; and
   WHEREAS, On February 25, 2010, Deputy Sheriff Wahlenmaier was
investigating a felony assault case in the town of Minkler,
California, in eastern Fresno County. While being served a search
warrant, the suspect ambushed the deputies with gunfire. Deputy
Sheriff Wahlenmaier suffered gunshot wounds that resulted in his
death upon his arrival at Community Regional Medical Center. The
subsequent investigation found that the suspect, a 51-year-old
Minkler man, was angry with other residents of the town and had
planned to ambush law enforcement officers if they attempted to
contact him. The suspect committed suicide during the incident.
Reedley Police Officer Javier Bejar was also killed in the gun
battle; and
   WHEREAS, Deputy Sheriff Wahlenmaier is survived by his loving wife
Beverly, and his two children, daughter Amy and son Austin. He is
also survived by his parents, Arthur and Patricia Wahlenmaier, his
sister Natalie (Wahlenmaier) Tomajan, and brother Tyler Wahlenmaier;
and
   WHEREAS, It is appropriate to memorialize Deputy Sheriff
Wahlenmaier's sacrifice by naming a portion of State Highway Route
168 in his honor, and to remember the sacrifices made by California
peace officers across the state who risk their lives daily to protect
citizens' lives; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes the
sacrifice made by Deputy Sheriff Wahlenmaier to protect the people of
California and designates the portion of State Highway Route 168
from approximately 0.5 miles east of Lodge Road to Ockenden Ranch
Road in Fresno County as the Deputy Sheriff Joel B. Wahlenmaier
Memorial Highway; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to
determine the cost of erecting the appropriate signs, consistent with
the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this
special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate
sources covering the cost, to erect those signs; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the author
for appropriate distribution.