TPR. STEVEN B. DEVRIES MEMORIAL HWY H.B. 4389 (H-1):
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4389 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Dave Pagel
House Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
Senate Committee: Transportation
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of Highway US-12 in Berrien County beginning at the intersection of US-12 and Highway M-60 and continuing west to the intersection of Highway US-12 and Highway US-31 as the "Tpr. Steven B. Devries Memorial Highway".
The bill would take effect 90 days after being enacted.
BACKGROUND
Trooper Steven B. Devries was shot and killed near Niles, Michigan, on October 12, 1972. Trooper Devries was on patrol when he received a call regarding a bank alarm in the City of Niles. Other officers responding to the robbery observed that Trooper Devries had stopped a vehicle with one subject. The trooper was shot by the subject during the stop and died at a local hospital from his wounds. He was 32, and survived by his wife and two children.
Investigating officers found that Trooper Devries had written the subject's name and address on a notepad. The subject was later apprehended, admitted to both the bank robbery and the murder, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He escaped prison on July 4, 1987, and was later killed in a gun battle with sheriff deputies in Mississippi, while fleeing from another bank robbery.
Trooper Devries was the 28th Michigan State Police officer to die in the line of duty.
Legislative Analyst: Ryan M. Bergan
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Glenn Steffens
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.