Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 4
CHAPTER 105
Relative to the CHP Officer Kirk Griess Memorial Highway.
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Filed with
Secretary of State
July 08, 2019.
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LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 4, Frazier.
CHP Officer Kirk Griess Memorial Highway.
This measure would designate the portion of Interstate 505 between the Interstate 80 interchange and the Vaca Valley Parkway in the County of Solano as the CHP Officer Kirk Griess Memorial Highway. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
YES WHEREAS, Kirk Anthony Griess was born on July 31, 1972, at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota to Sheldon and Helen Griess; and
WHEREAS, Kirk Griess grew up in Park Rapids, Minnesota, where he enjoyed ice skating, hockey, and building snow forts with his sisters Keli, Kari and Kaye; and
WHEREAS, After graduating in 1990 from Wahpeton High School in North Dakota, Kirk started his life of service at 18 years of age, enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, proudly serving alongside his Marine Corps brothers for four years, including a deployment to Japan, and earned the rank of Corporal before his discharge in 1994; and
WHEREAS, In 1991, while stationed at Mare Island in Vallejo, California, Kirk met the love of his life, Keri. They married on May 5, 1992, and after completing his service in the United States Marine Corps, Kirk and Keri started their family in Napa, California; and
WHEREAS, Kirk was a wonderful hands-on father from the moment each of his children were born; and
WHEREAS, Officer Griess graduated from the California Highway Patrol Academy and worked in the Oakland and Contra Costa offices, finally settling in the Solano office where he worked for 16 years; and
WHEREAS, Officer Griess was a very loving and involved father who was active in the community of Vacaville where he coached his kids’ youth soccer and baseball teams; and
WHEREAS, Whether as a husband, father, son, friend, coworker, coach, or mentor, Officer Griess exceeded every goal he set out to do, and his extraordinarily kind demeanor and infectious smile made him easy to approach and talk with; and
WHEREAS, Officer Griess had a heart for service and it showed in the returned love his community had for him, and everyone enjoyed his easygoing nature and his knack for always looking for the positive in others; and
WHEREAS, Everything Officer Griess did he did for his family by working hard so they could enjoy life and make memories; and
WHEREAS, Officer Griess loved spending time with his family, vacationing on the beach or in the snow, and riding his motorcycle on duty and his dirt bike off duty; and
WHEREAS, On August 10, 2018, while conducting a traffic stop on westbound Interstate 80 east of the Manuel Campos off-ramp, Officer Griess was struck and killed by a distracted and reckless driver; and
WHEREAS, At the time of his death, Officer Griess was survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Keri Griess, and by his daughters Kadi, Kaci, and his son Kole; and
WHEREAS, The loss to Officer Griess’ family, friends, his community, and the California Highway Patrol is immeasurable; and
WHEREAS, It is appropriate to commemorate Officer Griess’ service and ultimate sacrifice; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the portion of Interstate 505 between the Interstate 80 interchange and the Vaca Valley Parkway in the County of Solano as the CHP Officer Kirk Griess Memorial Highway to honor and commemorate Officer Kirk Griess’ legacy of service to his community; 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.