In a heartfelt tribute to the memory of Indian-origin police officer Ronil Singh, the state of California has dedicated a section of Highway 33 in Newman in his honor. Corporal Ronil Singh, aged 33, tragically lost his life while conducting a traffic stop in 2018, when he was fatally shot by an individual described as an “illegal immigrant.”
The dedication ceremony for the ‘Corporal Ronil Singh Memorial Highway’ took place on September 3, with a signage unveiling at the intersection of Highway 33 and Stuhr Road. Among those present at this poignant event were Singh’s widow, Anamika, and their son, Arnav, who was just five months old at the time of his father’s untimely death. The ceremony was also attended by other family members and colleagues from the Newman Police Department, as well as notable figures like county supervisor Channce Condit, State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, US Representative John Duarte, and Assemblyman Juan Alanis.
One of the most touching moments of the ceremony was the heartfelt message written on the back of the memorial sign by Arnav, which simply stated, “Love you Papa.”
Assemblyman Juan Alanis, who took to social media to share his sentiments, expressed his respect for Corporal Ronil Singh and the community’s gesture of honoring him. He said, “Today the community came together to honor the memory of Cpl. Ronil Singh, who was tragically killed in the line of duty in December 2018. The memorial highway sign was unveiled today and will be displayed on Highway 33 and Stuhr Road. I was honored to pay my respects to my former law enforcement colleague, and may his memory live on forever.”
California Senator Alvarado-Gil also took to Facebook to commend Corporal Ronil Singh’s dedication and commitment, stating that he would forever be remembered as a hero. She wrote, “Today, a promise that was made has finally been brought to life. The Newman community honored the late Corporal Singh for his dedication and commitment to putting his life on the line for the safety of others. The community came in numbers, showering the Singh family with love and support as they finally got to see this project come to life. Corporal Ronil Singh will always be a hero.”
This gesture of dedicating a highway in memory of Corporal Ronil Singh serves as a lasting tribute to his sacrifice and the profound impact he had on his community and the law enforcement community as a whole.