California Highway Honors Indian Hero

California has paid a heartfelt tribute to Ronil Singh, a brave Indian-origin police officer who tragically lost his life during a 2018 traffic stop. A stretch of highway, now known as the “Corporal Ronil Singh Memorial Highway,” has been dedicated to his memory located at Highway 33 and Stuhr Road.

The unveiling ceremony was profoundly emotional. Ronil Singh’s son, Arnav, who was only five months old when his father was killed and taken away from him, left a touching message on the signboard: “Love you, Papa.”

Corporal Ronil Singh, originally from Fiji, embarked on his law enforcement career as a volunteer with the Modesto Police Department. Tragically, his life was taken by a suspected drunk driver during his overtime shift on Christmas night in 2018.

In 2020, justice was served when the Mexican national responsible for Singh’s murder, Paulo Virgen Mendoza (also known as Gustavo Perez Arriaga), received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His capture, following a three-day manhunt, brought closure to the family’s mourning.

Paulo’s brother, Conrado Virgen Mendoza, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for his involvement in helping his brother flee to Mexico to evade prosecution for Singh’s murder.