BILL NUMBER: SCR 106 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 124
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 7, 2010
ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 9, 2010
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 30, 2010
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 27, 2010
INTRODUCED BY Senator Wright
(Coauthor: Senator Price)
APRIL 26, 2010
Relative to the Deputy Chief Kenneth O. Garner Memorial Highway.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 106, Wright. Deputy Chief Kenneth O. Garner Memorial Exit.
This measure would designate the Florence Avenue exit of State
Highway Route 110, in the City of Los Angeles, as the Deputy Chief
Kenneth O. Garner Memorial Exit. The measure would request the
Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate
signs showing this designation and, upon receiving donations from
nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
WHEREAS, Kenneth O. Garner was born on November 28, 1955, in Hot
Springs, Arkansas, the third of four children born to Otto and Mary
Garner, and, because his parents were both enlisted in the United
States Army during his childhood, he traveled the world and lived in
Taiwan, Germany, and Japan; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth O. Garner graduated from San Pedro High School in
1973 and received his Associate of Arts Degree in Administration of
Justice from Los Angeles Harbor College in 1975. He received his
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the California State
University, Dominguez Hills in 1981. He was a graduate of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy, and the Supervisory
Leadership Institute and the Senior Management Institute Program
(Boston University); and
WHEREAS, Kenneth O. Garner was appointed to the Los Angeles Police
Department (LAPD) on June 6, 1977. As a police officer his
assignments included Southwest Area, 77th Street Area, Central Area,
77th Street Vice, and Southeast Area. Upon promotion to Sergeant in
1986, his assignments included Central Area, Operations-South Bureau
C.R.A.S.H., 77th Street Area, Internal Affairs Division, and
Operations-South Bureau, where he served as a Commander's Aide. After
being promoted to Lieutenant he was assigned to Wilshire Area and
South Traffic Division as a Watch Commander; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, Lieutenant Garner was promoted to the rank of
Captain. His first assignment was in Foothill Area as the Commanding
Officer of the Operations-Support Division. He was also assigned as
the Commanding Officer of South Traffic Division, Foothill Area,
Transit Bus Division, and the 77th Street Area; and
WHEREAS, On October 2, 2005, Captain Garner was promoted to the
rank of Commander and assigned as the commanding officer of Personnel
Group. In this assignment, and among his many responsibilities,
Commander Garner was responsible for overseeing sworn, civilian, and
reserve recruitment and hiring for the department. He was charged
with the enormous task of furthering the mayor's hiring initiative to
increase the LAPD's authorized strength to 10,000 sworn employees by
2010, the highest number of officers in LAPD history. Due in large
part to Commander Garner's efforts, the LAPD's current sworn
deployment is now at 9,895, a milestone achievement for the
department. This accomplishment is indicative that the department is
on pace to reach the mayor's goal of 10,000 officers later this year;
and
WHEREAS, On July 1, 2007, a month after celebrating his 30th year
with the department, Commander Garner was promoted to the rank of
Deputy Chief of Police. He was soon assigned as the Commanding
Officer of Operations-West Bureau, where he oversaw all police
operations in the Hollywood, Wilshire, West Los Angeles, and Pacific
Areas and West Traffic Division; and
WHEREAS, On March 2, 2008, Deputy Chief Garner returned to the
community where he grew up and assumed command of Operations-South
Bureau, where he led the Criminal Gang/Homicide Group, 77th Street,
Southwest, Southeast, Harbor Areas, and South Traffic Division; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Garner was a member in good standing with
the Oscar Joel Bryand Foundation and the Association of Black Law
Enforcement Executives, and was a member of the Epsilon Kappa Chapter
of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He was also a member of the FBI
National Academy Association, the Northeast Toastmasters Club, and
the Los Angeles Police Command Officers Association. He was recipient
of the Trailblazer Award in 2008, where he was recognized for his
outstanding contribution to the progress of African Americans in the
City of Los Angeles. He received numerous community citations as well
as awards from the United States Congress, California State
Assembly, and various church and community organizations for his
involvement and dedication to the community; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Garner was a firm believer that teamwork
played a significant role in achieving success. He was truly
determined to create fundamental change for the people who live and
work in the south region of the City of Los Angeles. He supported
residential, business, and community organizations such as
Neighborhood Watch, the Watts Gang Task Force, and the Los Angeles
Urban League and Community Build. Deputy Chief Garner was also
committed to increasing the recognition and effectiveness of gang
intervention in the most troubled parts of the community. He also
initiated an innovative program for community re-entry and
rehabilitation of parolees, believing they deserved an opportunity
for a better life; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Garner enjoyed music, smooth jazz, and R&B,
was an avid reader, and a huge fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and
Lakers. He was also a volunteer coach for youth basketball, baseball,
and football at the Mar Vista Recreation Center; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Garner passed away unexpectedly on February
28, 2009, at the age of 53 years; and
WHEREAS, Deputy Chief Garner's legacy will continue through his
beloved daughter, Lauren; his loving parents, Otto and Mary; his
brother, David, and sisters, Carolyn and Nelianne; his nephews and
nieces; his Los Angeles Police Department family; a host of friends;
and thousands of community members, whom he was proud to serve; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
Florence Avenue exit of State Highway Route 110 in the City of Los
Angeles, as the Deputy Chief Kenneth O. Garner Memorial Exit; 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 Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the author for
appropriate distribution.