Highway 99 interchange named in honor of slain Ceres police sergeant

Bryce Stevenson has plenty of good memories of hanging out at the Ceres Police Department with his father, Sgt. Howard Stevenson.

It's those experiences and his father's legacy of hard work and service to the community that "are the driving force of my continued pursuit of a career in law enforcement," he said Friday.

His comments about his late father came at a dedication ceremony renaming the Whitmore Avenue overpass in Ceres to honor the slain police officer.

Howard Stevenson was killed in a brazen gunbattle six years ago outside a liquor store less than a mile northeast of the overpass. He was was Ceres' first and only police officer killed in the line of duty.

About 150 people gathered under the hot sun Friday to watch the unveiling of the large sign that will rename the overpass along Highway 99 as the "Sergeant Howard K. Stevenson Memorial Interchange."

Bryce Stevenson said he continued in his father's footsteps, graduating second in his class from police academy training last year. He is looking for first job.

Howard Stevenson's family, including his wife Kathy Stevenson, sat in attendance at the ceremony. His son said the family has received tremendous support from the community.

Chief praises heroism

Ceres Police Chief Art de Werk said the overpass sign will let drivers know Stevenson was "the city's first clearly-defined hero." He said Stevenson knowingly entered a highly dangerous situation on Jan. 9, 2005, to protect the community.

Stevenson, 39, died after he was shot to death by Andres Raya, a 19-year-old AWOL Marine from south Modesto. Raya also shot and seriously injured fellow officer Sam Ryno before police killed Raya.

A police investigation reported that Raya ambushed the officers with a high-powered assault rifle outside George's Liquors, 2125 Caswell Ave., near Central Avenue.

"He chased criminals with tenacity," de Werk said about Stevenson. "He treated all people with compassion and respect."

Assemblyman Bill Berryhill said he felt privileged to push for legislation to name the overpass in honor of Stevenson. Berryhill recognized many others who supported the effort.

Ceres police Chaplain Joel Richards said it's good that Stevenson will be remembered for his bravery and sacrifice, but his death still causes anger and sorrow. He said memories of what happened to Stevenson "still haunt me, and I know they still haunt his family."

Most of the attendees at the ceremony were law enforcement officials from the California Highway Patrol, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department and district attorney's office, along with Ceres, Turlock, Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale and Escalon police departments. The Ceres Fire Department used one of its trucks to hoist a large American flag at the ceremony.

The deadly shootout's aftermath in Ceres prompted police equipment upgrades, strategy changes, a citywide tax increase for public safety, a park named for Ryno and a rural riverfront grove named for Stevenson.

One of the equipment upgrades was the purchase of an armored SWAT team truck, so that officers can face heavily armed criminals. The SWAT truck was parked next to the stage at the ceremony.

Ceres Mayor Chris Vierra told the audience that he did not know Stevenson, but his courage was evident in the stories about him that others share.

"He, on that courageous day, was the pillar of strength to protect this community," Vierra said.

Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or (209)578-2394.

This story was originally published September 23, 2011 at 9:52 PM.