Project reignited to name portion of Highway 33 after slain West Side police corporal

An effort is moving forward to name part of Highway 33 for Newman police Cpl. Ronil Singh, county and state officials said Thursday.

Singh was fatally shot by a suspected drunk driver early on Dec. 26, 2018.

In September 2019, the Assembly Transportation Committee passed a resolution for the Corporal Ronil Singh Memorial Highway in western Stanislaus and Merced counties. But the process of naming a stretch of Highway 33 near Newman in honor of Singh later stalled.

Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit approached state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil about the memorial after she was elected in November and sworn into office. Condit told her that more action was required to designate the memorial highway.

Alvarado-Gil said in a news release Thursday they approached the state Department of Transportation to finish the documentation and ask what else was needed.

Chad Condit, chief of staff for the state senator, said her office is working with Caltrans on choosing the location for the memorial highway section. Condit said he expects a ceremony will be scheduled within 100 days for putting up the memorial sign.

“I am honored to join with the Newman Police Association, the Blue Line Wives advocacy group and other community leaders to be a part of recognizing the legacy of Ronil Singh,” Alvarado-Gil said.

Singh, 33, was shot four times after making a traffic stop in east Newman. He was survived by his wife, Anamika, and a baby son.

Officials said the state dedicates highway sections in honor of heroes or public figures but does not pay the expenses. Chad Condit mentioned a cost of $8,500 for the Singh memorial.

The Blue Line Wives, a nonprofit group that supports the wives and families of police officers, is selling Ronil Singh memorial coins and accepting donations for costs of the memorial.

The coins, selling for $20, have a picture of the fallen hero on one side and the Blue Line Wives logo on the back.

“Because of the manner in which he was killed and how much he meant to the community of Newman, it will be a great memorial for him,” said Jennifer Foster, treasurer of Blue Line Wives. “It will remind the people of Newman what he meant to them and what they meant to him.”

Blue Line Wives is selling the memorial coins and accepting donations at bluelinewives.com, with proceeds going to the highway dedication. Shipping is an additional $5 for any number of coins.