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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 02- SEPTEMBER 08, 2024
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to get more body-worn cams
Riverside County dedicates Hamner Avenue project’s Berwin Hanna Bridge
By Joe Taglieri
By Joe Taglieri
joet@beaconmedianews.com
joet@beaconmedianews.com
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heriff’s deputies who work in San Bernardino County jails will soon be equipped with body-worn cameras, county officials said Wednesday. The sheriff’s department and Rep. Young Kim, R-Chino Hills, announced she had secured the $1.5 million in federal funding for the new cameras earlier this month. “What these bodyworn cameras do is provide evidence, whether it’s evidence to help convict the suspects or evidence for a crime scene,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said in a video announcing the new cameras. “And the other side of that is also the transparency for the public.” A sheriff’s department statement said body-worn cameras have been a priority for the department that shows its “commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and public trust.” The sheriff’s department started deploying body worn cameras in August 2023, county spokeswoman Gloria Huerta said in an email to the San Bernardino Press. Initially cameras went to patrol stations early this year, then a second phase of deployment to specialized divisions and resident posts began in July. Approximately 1000 bodyworn cameras currently are in use by those divisions. This latest round of funding enables completion of a third phase to equip corrections deputies with body-worn cameras, Huerta said. The $1.5 million secured by Kim will purchase 200 cameras and pay for installing infrastructure to support the new cams. The corrections roll-out is expected to complete by September 2025. “Our law enforcement put themselves in harm’s way to
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Two San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies, at left, display body-worn cameras. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County/YouTube
keep our communities safe,” Kim said in a statement. “I am proud to secure vital federal resources for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to purchase body
the cameras shows a shared commitment to advancing public safety and equipping deputies with the necessary tools to effectively perform their duties.
From left, Supervisor Curt Hagman, Rep. Young Kim and Sheriff Shannon Dicus. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County/YouTube
camera and taser equipment, so law enforcement can better do their jobs and ensure deputies follow accountability practices. Protecting public safety will always be a top priority for me as your representative.” Sheriff’s and county officials said Kim’s dedication to obtaining the funding for
“Public safety, public trust, and providing law enforcement with the resources they need are among San Bernardino County’s highest priorities,” Board of Supervisors Chairman and 3rd District Supervisor Dawn Rowe said in a statement. “We are grateful to Congresswoman Kim for her support
and advocacy.” District 4 Supervisor Curt Hagman said in a statement, “This funding represents a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance public safety through advanced technology. Collaborating with Congresswoman Young Kim has enabled us to secure the essential resources needed to enhance officer safety and strengthen community trust. By equipping our deputies with these state-of-the-art body cameras, we’re setting a new standard for transparency and accountability in law enforcement.” The funding was part of the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, a package of six federal spending bills for the current fiscal year that funds a wide range of local projects nationwide. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department describes itself as the law enforcement agency for the nation’s largest geographical county, serving more than 2.1 million residents via eight county stations and 14 stations in contract cities. The department has over 4,200 employees.
ocal officials and community members on Monday dedicated the recently renovated Hamner Avenue bridge to former Norco Mayor Berwin Hanna. An event at Eastvale Community Park officially cut the ribbon on the Hamner Avenue Bridge and Widening Project. Construction on the 85-year-old bridge in Norco began in January 2021. Hamner Avenue is a major artery and alternate route to Interstate 15 that connects Corona, Norco, Eastvale and cities in San Bernardino County to the north, and officials expect traffic to increase with population growth over time. The new 1,200-foot bridge stretches across the Santa Ana River and “features structural, seismic
and hydraulic state-of-theart design,” according to a Riverside County statement. The bridge’s roadway now includes shoulders and a median that is 4 feet wide. It also now has a new 12-foot-wide, separated multipurpose trail on the bridge’s east side. Officials expect the trail to open later this summer, providing equestrians, pedestrians and cyclists with a safe path across the bridge and access to the Santa Ana River Trail. The project’s cost was $71 million from federal, state and local funding sources. Speakers at the ribboncutting and dedication event included Riverside County 2nd District Supervisor Karen Spiegel, Rep. Ken Calvert, D-Corona, Riverside County Transportation Commission Executive Director
See Berwin Hanna Bridge Page 28
Higher temps in forecast across region to start September By City News Service
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riple-digit heat is returning to the forecast for the Riverside metropolitan area to start September, according to the National Weather Service. The agency said that beginning Tuesday and continuing to the end of this week, temperatures “five to 10 degrees above average” will be prevalent across the Inland Empire. NWS surface prognostication charts indicated that ridges of high pressure moving through the Great Basin of Nevada and Utah will influence weather patterns after Labor Day. No heat advisories have been issued. In the Riverside metropolitan area, daytime temperatures for the remainder of this week will top out in the low- to mid-90s, but the mercury is forecast to cross the 100-degree mark next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with overnight lows generally in the mid 60s. In the Coachella Valley, the temperature swings won’t See Heat Page 27