ACR 81: Border Patrol Agent Daniel H. Salazar Memorial Highway.

WHEREAS, Daniel “Danny” Humberto Salazar was born on May 1, 1982, in the County of Los Angeles to Humberto and Marielena Salazar; and

WHEREAS, Danny grew up in his family’s home in the City of Downey alongside his mother, father, and siblings, Nancy, Cindy, and Michael; and

WHEREAS, As a young man, Danny had a passion for music and, as a self-taught musician, played the guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, piano, and his specialty, drums; and

WHEREAS, Danny attended Warren High School in the City of Downey, where he met and began dating his future wife, Karina; and

WHEREAS, After high school, Danny attended Río Hondo College in the City of Whittier, graduated from the college with an associate of science degree, and successfully passed an emergency medical technician training program; and

WHEREAS, Danny was a volunteer firefighter for the City of Downey and completed several ridealongs with the Los Angeles and Long Beach Fire Departments; and

WHEREAS, Danny attended a rigorous wildland fire academy in the County of San Diego and worked for the wildland fire crew in the County of Lassen; and

WHEREAS, Danny attended the Los Angeles Fire Department Leadership Academy but had to step down from his position due to an injury suffered during training; and

WHEREAS, Danny applied to be a United States Border Patrol Agent; and

WHEREAS, After he successfully completed, in the City of Artesia, the challenging, immersive, and strenuous 19-week United States Border Patrol Academy, which is one of the largest and widely considered as one of the most difficult training academies in the world, Danny graduated as a member of Class 1097 on December 7, 2018, and received an official offer to begin his career as a border agent at the United States Customs and Border Protection’s El Cajon Station; and

WHEREAS, Danny adapted well to his working environment at the United States Customs and Border Protection’s El Cajon Station, flourished in the field training unit program, and made an impact on his patrol group with his reliability, rational thinking, work ethic, and skills; and

WHEREAS, Danny was proficient and self-motivated, had the trust of his leaders and coworkers, and earned a place on the border patrol unit using all-terrain vehicles; and

WHEREAS, On July 21, 2021, Danny became a father, welcoming his son, Santiago “Santi” Salazar, into the world; and

WHEREAS, Danny read to Santi every night before work, cared for him delicately, was incredibly proud to be his “Poppa,” and would take him on walks in a stroller to show him the beauty of nature; and

WHEREAS, On the tragic day of May 13, 2022, while he was responding to a sensor activation, Danny passed away from injuries sustained in an on-duty single vehicle crash on a border road near Potrero, south of Bell Valley; and

WHEREAS, Danny will be remembered as an outstanding United States Border Patrol Agent, a devoted husband, a proud father, and a true family man; 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 State Route 94 from Potrero Valley Road (postmile 41.393) to Bell Valley Truck Trail (postmile R44.96) in the County of San Diego as the Border Patrol Agent Daniel H. Salazar 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 that 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.