Rest Area to be Named in Honor of Slain Deputy

Assemblymember Mariko Yamada and Yolo County Sheriff Ed G. Prieto will dedicate the I-5 Rest Area at County Road 6 and County Line Road in Dunnigan in honor of the late Deputy Tony Diaz at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013.

Yolo County Deputy Tony Diaz was fatally shot near the Dunnigan rest area in June 2008 after a high-speed pursuit of a suspected drunk driver who also had a child in the vehicle. The suspect, Marco Topete, was convicted for Diaz’s murder in 2011 and sentenced to death. 

Two signs naming the Rest Area “Deputy Tony Diaz, Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, Memorial Rest Area” will be unveiled at Friday’s dedication ceremony.

“Five years have passed since Deputy Diaz gave his life to protect the safety of Yolo County residents,” said Assemblymember Yamada.  “I wish to thank the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office for helping make this memorial a reality, and to recognize the honor Tony brought to his badge and his profession.”

The dedication is a collaboration of Assemblymember Yamada and the Yolo County Sheriff’s office to honor the bravery of Deputy Diaz.  Yamada authored Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 14 that authorized the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office and Caltrans to erect the two signs, which were paid for by private donations raised by Diaz’s family, friends and colleagues.

Diaz, who was raised in Dixon and joined the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office in 2004, is remembered by his peers as a gentle, hardworking man who was proud of his community and his three daughters, Angelica, Jessica and Alejandra.

“Tony is in our thoughts daily as we see his picture throughout our office,” said Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto. “Now the motoring public and the citizens of the Dunnigan area will have a memorial to remind them of the sacrifice that Tony gave while doing something he loved - protecting our community.  This is an awesome tribute to one of our fallen heroes.”