PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Three years after Kaylee Sawyer was murdered by a campus security officer in Bend, Governor Kate Brown signed into law a bill named for her.
In July 2016, Kaylee Sawyer was walking near the Central Oregon Community College Campus when campus security guard Edwin Lara picked her up. After putting Sawyer in the back of a campus security vehicle, Lara assaulted and murdered her.
She was 23.
Lara pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and will spend the rest of his life in prison.
For months, Sawyer’s family has been working to draft legislation that will place tight restrictions on campus security officers.
“Kaylee’s Law” clearly defines how campus security officers may appear so that are not confused with actual police officers. It also requires nationwide background checks of all individuals employed as special campus security officers.
Gov. Brown signed the bill into law Thursday afternoon in Bend.
Previous KOIN coverage of the Kaylee Sawyer case