ACR 159, as introduced, Chesbro. Deputy Sheriff Merrit W. Deeds Memorial Highway.
This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway Route 116 in the County of Sonoma as the Deputy Sheriff Merrit W. Deeds Memorial Highway. The measure would request that the Department of Transportation determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
Fiscal committee: yes.
P1 1WHEREAS, Merrit W. Deeds was born on February 23, 1943,
2in Rohnerville, California, grew up in Sonoma County, and
3graduated from Healdsburg High School in 1960; and
4WHEREAS, Merrit W. Deeds joined the United States Army
5in 1964 and served in Vietnam in the 81st Airborne Infantry
6Division; and
7WHEREAS, Merrit W. Deeds first served with the Sonoma
8County Sheriff’s Office in 1970 as a Summer Deputy and was
9assigned to the Guerneville Substation; and
P2 1WHEREAS, After graduating from Sacramento State University,
2Merrit W. Deeds moved to Alaska to attend the Alaska State
3Trooper Academy and, upon graduation from the academy, became
4an Alaska State Trooper; and
5WHEREAS, Merrit W. Deeds moved back to California in 1975
6with his wife and again became a Summer Deputy for the Sonoma
7County Sheriff’s Office on May 23, 1975; and
8WHEREAS, On August 23, 1975, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s
9Office notified Merrit W. Deeds that he was to become a
10permanent, full-time Deputy Sheriff with the sheriff’s office; and
11WHEREAS, Only hours after this notification, Deputy Sheriff
12 Deeds was patrolling State Highway Route 116 near Jenner when
13he stopped to talk with three men who were parked on the side of
14the road; and
15WHEREAS, The driver of the vehicle fired two shots at Deputy
16Sheriff Deeds, the second of which was fatal; and
17WHEREAS, Reserve Deputy Rex Nance, who was off duty,
18stopped to assist, and Deputy Sheriff Deeds was able to warn him
19that the driver had a gun, possibly saving Reserve Deputy Nance’s
20life; and
21WHEREAS, At 32 years of age, Deputy Sheriff Deeds sacrificed
22his life in meritorious service for the residents of the County of
23Sonoma and the State of California; and
24WHEREAS, Deputy Sheriff Deeds was survived by his wife
25and two small daughters; and
26Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
27thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
28portion of State Highway Route 116 from State Highway Route
291 to Armstrong Woods Road in the County of Sonoma as the
30Deputy Sheriff Merrit W. Deeds Memorial Highway; and be it
31further
32Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested
33to determine the cost of appropriate signs consistent with the
34signing requirements for the state highway system showing this
35special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate
36sources sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs; and be it
37further
P3 1Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
2of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author
3for appropriate distribution.
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