It first started the debate about having crossing arms at railroad crossings, and it also directly led to establishing widow and orphan funds in the state for officers killed while on duty. Since there was no fund in 1949, Kerley's family paid for his funeral and gravestone. The marker now has both his and his wife's names on it. Etched in the middle is a copy of his police badge, No.11. The audience heard a recitation of the names of the 14 officers killed in California since January 2000.
Freedom comes with a high cost.