Portion of 91 Freeway named for slain L.A. sheriff's deputy

 

A portion of the 91 Freeway will be dedicated today in memory of David Powell, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy killed in the line of duty on Nov. 30, 2002, in Artesia.

Sheriff Lee Baca will join others for the dedication this morning at Artesia Park.

Powell, of Torrance, was an 18-year department veteran who left behind a wife and four children. He worked out of the Lakewood sheriff's station.

The episode began when sheriff's deputies received a report of gunfire.

When sheriff's patrols arrived at that address, the occupant of a house in the front told them his sister was in the home to the rear and was afraid to leave. Believing that a hostage situation was unfolding, three or four deputies surrounded the house. They saw the suspect peering through a window in the front door and then kicked the door in. Shots came from the house,  one of them striking Powell.

Powell, who was pulled away by deputies, had been hit by a bullet that pierced and exited his right arm and then entered his chest through a side seam in his protective vest. He died at a nearby hospital 90 minutes later.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo credit: L.A. Sheriff

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Comments

[Peg]

This is stupid. I understad that this officer served and sacrificed, but how much does it cost to post and maintain these signs? Wouldn't a scholarship in the officer's name make more sense? LA is littered with signs "naming" parts of highways, most of which have no relevance to the road. Only one thing worse--signs with politicians' names on them.

[Cut fraud]

Hope this does not mean that his name will be imprinted on the freeway. I support law enforcement agencies and their hazardous duties. However, freeways are publicy funded and no agency or official has a right to appropriate them for their personal promotion. No publicly funded property whether freeways, parks or buildings should ever be named with any person's name. That inludes the LA politicians who have way too many taxpayer funded properties named after them.

[Daughter of a HERO]

HEY PEG AND CUT FRAUD YOU PRESUMTIOUS JERKS, THIS MAN IS MY FATHER AND HIS LIFE DESERVES THIS RECOGNICIAN. YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH YOUR UNEDUCATED POLITICAL COMMENTARY BECAUSE NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING WAS GIVEN TO THIS EFFORT. A WONDERFULLY GENEROUS CITIZEN OF LAKEWOOD ORGANIZED A FUND RAISER IN WHICH CLOSE FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND FELLOW DEPUTIES ATTENDED TO COLLECT THE MONEY NEEDED TO ERRECT MY DADS SIGN. AT THE FUND RAISER WE RASIED 175% OF THE FUNDING NEEDED FOR THE SIGN. THE SIGN WAS PAID FOR BY US, 100% OF IT. THE ADDITIONAL MONEY WAS DONATED TO THE C.O.P.S. ORGANIZATION TO HELP PAY FOR THEIR EVENTS AND TO GIVE TO THE MANY FAMILIES THAT THEY SUPPORT (INCLUDING MY OWN). SO EDUCATE YOURSELF OR SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!

[Daughter of a hero]

“Peg” and “cut fraud” you presumptuous jerks! This man is my father and his life deserves this recognition. You obviously have no clue what you are talking about with this uneducated political commentary because no government funding was given to this effort. A wonderfully generous citizen of Lakewood organized a fund raiser in which family, close friends, and fellow deputies attended to collect the money needed to erect my dad’s sign. We raised 175% of the funding needed for the sign. The sign was paid for by us, 100% of it! The additional money was donated to the C.O.P.S. organization to help pay for events and to give to the many families that they support (including my own).