ACR37 - The Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, Captain Tim Rodriguez, and Pilot Tony Sousa Memorial Highway.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 37 CHAPTER 130 Relative to the Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, Captain Tim Rodriguez, and Pilot Tony Sousa Memorial Highway. [ Filed with Secretary of State July 03, 2025. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 37, Wallis. The Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, Captain Tim Rodriguez, and Pilot Tony Sousa Memorial Highway. This measure would designate the portion of State Route 10 from the Malki Road undercrossing to the East Cabazon Ramp overcrossing in the County of Riverside as the Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, Captain Tim Rodriguez, and Pilot Tony Sousa 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 Bill Text WHEREAS, On Sunday, August 6, 2023, two firefighting helicopters, a Sikorsky S-64E and a Bell 407, collided in the unincorporated community of Cabazon in the County of Riverside while battling the Broadway Wildland Fire; and WHEREAS, Although the Sikorsky S-64E helicopter was able to land safely, the Bell 407 crashed, tragically taking the lives of Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, CAL FIRE Captain Timothy “Tim” Rodriguez, and Contract Pilot Tony Sousa; and WHEREAS, Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, who was born on June 17, 1977, began his firefighting career as a volunteer firefighter at Volunteer Fire Station 78 in the unincorporated community of Mountain Center in the County of Riverside; and WHEREAS, Bischof joined the San Bernardino National Forest Service Vista Grande Hotshots in 1998, moved on to CAL FIRE in 1999, and rose through the ranks to become an Assistant Chief with CAL FIRE’s Southern Region Headquarters in 2023; and WHEREAS, Bischof is survived by his wife of 24 years, Cheryl, their children, Derek and Juliana, and many other friends and loved ones; and WHEREAS, Captain Tim Rodriguez, who was born on January 3, 1979, began his firefighting career by joining CAL FIRE as a Firefighter I, serving at Fire Station 41 in the unincorporated community of Mecca in the County of Riverside; and WHEREAS, Rodriguez was promoted through a series of ranks to fire captain in 2019, first serving in that capacity at Fire Station 14 in the City of Norco, and then at Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base as a helitack fire captain; and WHEREAS, Rodriguez is survived by his wife of 20 years, Dorothy, their three children, Joshua, Haley, and Alexis, and many other friends and loved ones; and WHEREAS, Pilot Tony Sousa, who was born on November 11, 1967, held many jobs in his life, including as a dairy worker, Outlaw Kart salesperson, custom harvester, and helicopter pilot; and WHEREAS, Sousa not only achieved his lifelong dream by becoming a pilot, but he was also pivotal in implementing the CAL FIRE Helicopter Coordinator (HLCO) training program; and WHEREAS, Sousa is survived by his wife, Rachelle, his two children, Connor and Carson, and many other friends and loved ones; and WHEREAS, Assistant Chief Bischof, Captain Rodriguez, and Pilot Sousa lost their lives while serving the people of the State of California and their sacrifices shall never be forgotten; 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 10 from the Malki Road undercrossing (post mile R16.544) to the East Cabazon Ramp overcrossing (post mile R19.398) in the County of Riverside as the Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, Captain Tim Rodriguez, and Pilot Tony Sousa 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.