One year after his death, Sheriff’s Sgt Steve Owen of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station was honored by law enforcement for his sacrifice.

A ceremony was held in honor of Owen Thursday morning to formally dedicate a portion of Highway 14 as the Sergeant Steven C. Owen Memorial Highway in Antelope Valley.

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris said Owen died in an act of service to the community he served.

“One year ago today, Sergeant Steve Owen made the ultimate sacrifice in order to ensure the safety of our residents and their families,” said Parris. “The dedication of a portion of the Antelope Valley freeway in honor of Sergeant Owen will serve as a continuous reminder of his selfless act, as well as a lesson to us all that we each have the ability to improve our community – much like Steve did every day.”

The ceremony took place in conjunction with a 24-hour vigil for Owen on the corner of 32nd Street West and J8 in Lancaster, near the neighborhood where Owen was killed, said Shirley Miller, public information officer for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Law enforcement from Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley arranged to have at least two deputies at a time stand in place for the 24-hour vigil. The vigil has continuously been staffed by deputies since 12 a.m. Thursday and will continue until 12 a.m. Friday morning, according to Miller.

“At least six deputies from Santa Clarita came to participate (in the vigil),” Miller said. “They were people that personally knew Owen.”

Sgt. Steve Owen was murdered by a burglary suspect October 5, 2016.

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Owen, a 29-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department, was working with the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station on Oct. 5, 2016 when he responded to a reported residential burglary on Avenue J in Lancaster.

When Owen approached the location, the burglary suspect fatally shot him.

Following his murder, the former Acton resident received the Sheriff’s Department’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor, for his role in safely taking an armed suspect into custody using nonlethal force.

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