COLTON COURIER Weekly
February 13, 2025
Vol 153, NO. 09
Colton Police Boosts Patrol and Investigations with In-Car Cameras and DOJ-Funded Forensic Equipment
IECN.com
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PHOTO DENISE BERVER Colton Police Department unveils its upgraded patrol fleet featuring Axon's Fleet 3 In-Car Camera Systems, enhancing officer accountability and evidence collection with support from Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.
By Manny Sandoval
T
he Colton Police Department is strengthening public safety and investigative precision with the addition of Axon’s Fleet 3 Advanced InCar Camera Systems and new high-resolution forensic cameras funded through a Department of Justice (DOJ) grant.
Funded in part by $356,414 from San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.’s discretionary funds, the in-car camera system was unanimously approved by the Colton City Council during its February 4 meeting. The remaining cost, totaling $475,218.23, will be covered by the police department’s budget, with full implementation expected by
June 2025. The new in-car cameras will integrate with the Axon body-worn cameras already in use, enhancing officers’ ability to document incidents in real time. "Officers on patrol need to have the equipment necessary to effectively collect Colton PD, cont. next pg.
San Bernardino Councilmember Theodore Sanchez Faces Recall Over Misrepresentation and Inaction By Manny Sandoval
A
Dennis Wilson, Army Veteran and NASA Engineer Who Helped Touch the Moon, Remembered for His Service and Legacy
recall effort led by The People of San Bernardino targeting Ward 1 City Councilmember Theodore Sanchez is gaining traction, with organizers citing misrepresentation, inaction, and obstruction of legislation as primary reasons for his removal. The campaign has already surpassed the initial signature requirement and is preparing for the next steps toward a special election.
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“We have all the signatures we need and exceeded the amount,” said Arthur Anderson, executive director of The People of San Bernardino. “We needed 60 signatures, and we have over 100.”
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Sanchez, first elected in November 2018, is currently serving his second term, representing a ward of approximately 20,000 residents. However, he secured re-election in 2022 with fewer than 1,000 votes, a statistic that recall proponents say reflects a lack of genuine community support.
Pg. 5 Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: iecn1@mac.com Legals : iecnlegals@gmail.com
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL San Bernardino Ward 1 Councilman Theodore Sanchez addressing the crowd at the 5th Street Gateway ribbon cutting in April 2024, ahead of the recall efforts.
“He keeps getting elected because of the fliers voters receive in the mail,” Anderson
said. “Nine out of ten doors I knocked on signed the recall petition. When I meet with business leaders and community coalitions, they tell the same story—Sanchez doesn’t respond, and when he does, it’s just to talk, with no action.” For Anderson, the recall effort stems from a larger issue: who Sanchez is truly serving in office. “The only people who have positive views of him are the ones funding his campaign,” Anderson claims. Concerns Over Business Neglect and Political Ties Residents and business owners in Ward 1 have expressed frustration over unaddressed issues, such as inadequate street lighting and neglected parks along Mt. Vernon Avenue. “They would reach out to him, and nothing was done,” Anderson said. “It wasn’t until David Friedman, co-owner of Realicore Real Estate and our group started organizing that he finally began to respond.” Despite Sanchez’s City of San Bernardino biography stating he is “accountable and accessible to the community,” Recall, cont. next pg.