BILL NUMBER: ACR 159INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chesbro (Coauthor: Senator Evans) JUNE 10, 2014 Relative to the Deputy Sheriff Merrit W. Deeds Memorial Highway. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST 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. WHEREAS, Merrit W. Deeds was born on February 23, 1943, in Rohnerville, California, grew up in Sonoma County, and graduated from Healdsburg High School in 1960; and WHEREAS, Merrit W. Deeds joined the United States Army in 1964 and served in Vietnam in the 81st Airborne Infantry Division; and WHEREAS, Merrit W. Deeds first served with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office in 1970 as a Summer Deputy and was assigned to the Guerneville Substation; and WHEREAS, After graduating from Sacramento State University, Merrit W. Deeds moved to Alaska to attend the Alaska State Trooper Academy and, upon graduation from the academy, became an Alaska State Trooper; and WHEREAS, Merrit W. Deeds moved back to California in 1975 with his wife and again became a Summer Deputy for the Sonoma County Sheriff' s Office on May 23, 1975; and WHEREAS, On August 23, 1975, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office notified Merrit W. Deeds that he was to become a permanent, full-time Deputy Sheriff with the sheriff's office; and WHEREAS, Only hours after this notification, Deputy Sheriff Deeds was patrolling State Highway Route 116 near Jenner when he stopped to talk with three men who were parked on the side of the road; and WHEREAS, The driver of the vehicle fired two shots at Deputy Sheriff Deeds, the second of which was fatal; and WHEREAS, Reserve Deputy Rex Nance, who was off duty, stopped to assist, and Deputy Sheriff Deeds was able to warn him that the driver had a gun, possibly saving Reserve Deputy Nance's life; and WHEREAS, At 32 years of age, Deputy Sheriff Deeds sacrificed his life in meritorious service for the residents of the County of Sonoma and the State of California; and WHEREAS, Deputy Sheriff Deeds was survived by his wife and two small daughters; and Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the portion of State Highway Route 116 from State Highway Route 1 to Armstrong Woods Road in the County of Sonoma as the Deputy Sheriff Merrit W. Deeds Memorial Highway; 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 Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Director of Transportation and to the author for appropriate distribution.