BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: SCR 21
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: desaulnier
VERSION: 3/9/11
Analysis by: Carrie Cornwell FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: April 5, 2011
SUBJECT:
Martinez Police Sergeant Paul Starzyk Memorial Overcrossing
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution names the Pine Street Overcrossing of State
Highway Route (SR) 4 in the City of Martinez as the Martinez
Police Sergeant Paul Starzyk Memorial Overcrossing.
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 resolution must represent the
district in which the facility is located and the resolution
must identify the specific highway segment or structure being
named.
The segment of highway being named must not exceed five miles
in length.
The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus
and be without local opposition.
SCR 21 (DESAULNIER) Page 2
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.
This resolution designates the Pine Street Overcrossing of SR 4
in Contra Costa County as the "Martinez Police Sergeant Paul
Starzyk Memorial Overcrossing." 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 . The author introduced this resolution as a tribute
to the life and work of
Paul Starzyk, who died in the line of duty while serving in
the Martinez Police Department.
2.Background on Paul Starzyk . Born and raised in the Midwest,
Paul Starzyk first had a career in the banking industry before
pursuing a career in law enforcement. He became a reserve
officer in the Martinez Police Department in 1992 and two
years later took a full-time position there. He was a member
of the SWAT team, became a SWAT team instructor, and in
December 2007, achieved the rank of sergeant. He was well
known, liked, and respected in the City of Martinez, where he
interacted daily with its citizens.
Sergeant Starzyk died in the line of duty on September 6, 2008
when he responded to a "shots fired" call at a Martinez hair
salon. Officers responded to the call and exchanged shots with
the salon owner's estranged husband who had come to the salon
in search of his wife. Sergeant Starzyk was among the first
officers to arrive on the scene. He was shot in the exchange
with the gunman and died from the wounds he suffered. He is
survived by his wife, Shannon, and their three children.
3.Consistent with the committee's policy . This resolution is
consistent with all of the provisions of the committee's
policy on highway designations.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday, March 30,
SCR 21 (DESAULNIER) Page 3
2011)
SUPPORT: None received.
OPPOSED: None received.