Stretch Of Hwy 116 Named In Honor Of Slain Deputy In Sonoma County

Photo of Deputy Merritt W. Deeds courtesy of Sonoma Sheriff via Facebook.

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Family, friends and law enforcement personnel honored a slain Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Saturday morning by dedicating part of a county road in his name, sheriff’s officials said.

The group gathered at 10:30 a.m. on state Highway 116 near state Highway 1 to unveil the Deputy Merritt W. Deeds Memorial Highway. Deeds died after he stopped Aug. 23, 1975, to help what he thought was a stranded motorist, according to the sheriff’s office.

The motorist turned out to be John Robert Shirey, a wanted parolee.

Shirey and two male companions had pulled over to molest two 15-year-old hitchhikers, sheriff’s officials said. Deeds obtained Shirey’s driver’s license to check for warrants but Shirey got the jump on Deeds and shot him in the face and neck, according to the sheriff’s office.

Shirey was later apprehended, convicted of first-degree murder of a peace officer and sentenced to life in prison, sheriff’s officials said.

Deeds had been working for the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office only three months when he died, county officials said.

Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association, the California State Legislature and the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors supported the dedication. Sheriff’s officials said they are asking motorists to reflect on Deeds’ legacy as they travel Highway 116.

--Bay City News