California Senate votes to name 19th Avenue overpass in honor of Officer Jonathan Diaz

The resolution, by Senator Melissa Hurtado, D-Sanger, will memorialize the fallen Officer’s service and his contributions to the community.

Diaz, the father of three, began his law enforcement career in his hometown of Huron, California. In 2016, he joined the Lemoore Police Department, and just two years later, he was awarded Officer of the Year in 2018.  A dedicated officer, Diaz went on to earn a job as a gang investigator for the Kings County Major Crimes Task Force while also mentoring at-risk youth through the Youth Adult Awareness Program.

It was on November 2, 2019, that Officer Diaz was fatally shot and killed while attending to a domestic dispute. During the altercation, he successfully intervened to save a victim, only to be fatally shot in an attempt to deescalate the disagreement.

“I am grateful to have the support of my colleagues in remembering Officer Johnathan Diaz for his heroic work in the community. May his memory and service forever be a blessing to his family and community,” said Hurtado. 

“Thank you, Senator Hurtado, for your support of SCR 86. My family and I are so honored to have the 19th Avenue Overpass in Lemoore named after my son.  His family and his community were important to him, and this would be a fitting tribute,” said Diaz’s mother, Blanca Vasquez.

For more information on ACR 83, click here.