Section of 210 Foothill Freeway Will Be Dedicated to Pasadena Police Officer Killed in the Line of Duty

A section of the 210 Foothill Freeway will be dedicated on March 13 to a Pasadena police officer killed in the line of duty on that date in 1969.

The Pasadena Police Department will unveil the “Pasadena Police Agent Richard Morris Memorial Highway” sign, which will be placed along the 210 Freeway between the east city limits to Allen Avenue and Allen Avenue to the city limits on the west.

Pasadena Police Agent Richard Morris was shot and killed in the line of duty when he and three other police undercover agents went to the home of a man to question him about an assault on another police officer.  The man’s brother came to the door of the residence armed with a .38 caliber handgun and ordered the officers to leave.

As three of the officers began to leave the property, Agent Morris began to struggle with the suspect and was shot twice.

At the time of his death, Agent Morris had been with Pasadena Police Department for seven years.  He was survived by his wife, son and daughter.

State Assemblymember Chris Holden introduced a resolution in 2014 which led to this commemoration.

The ceremony will take place either in front of the Pasadena Police Department or City Hall, Chief of Police Phillip Sanchez said in an email today.

Sanchez said that donations are being accepted to cover the cost of the sign. All donations are tax-deductible and checks should be made to the Pasadena Police Foundation with “Freeway Sign” on the memo line, C/O the Pasadena Police Department, 207 N. Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101.