COLTON COURIER Weekly
April 30, 2026
Vol 154, NO. 23
4-Year-Old Sworn In by Colton Police After Viral Birthday Visit Inspires Department
IECN.com
Whole Foods Anchored Marketplace Approved in North Redlands Pg. 4
PHOTO JEFF KAGLE Honorary Colton Police Officer Ezra Galicia, 4, stands in uniform as his badge is pinned during his swearing-in ceremony at a Colton City Council meeting on April 21.
By Manny Sandoval
A
4-year-old boy’s dream of becoming a Colton police officer became a formal moment of recognition April 21, when Ezra Galicia was sworn in as an honorary member of the Colton Police Department during a City Council meeting.
PHOTO JEFF KAGLE Colton Police Chief Anthony Vega kneels as he administers the oath to 4-year-old Ezra Galicia during his honorary swearing-in at a Colton City Council meeting, as family members stand by his side.
The ceremony followed a birthday visit from Colton officers earlier this year after Ezra’s aunt contacted the department to see if officers could stop by. What began as a small gesture quickly grew into a viral community moment, with the department’s Instagram video drawing more than 10 million views. For Colton Police Chief Anthony Vega,
the story resonated because Ezra’s admiration was not general — it was specific to the city’s police department. “When I realized that he’s 4 years old and loves Colton Police — straight up, ‘I’m going to be a Colton police officer. I only want to work for Colton Police Department’ — that’s when me and the Colton PD, cont. next pg.
SBVC Student Government Candidates Spotlight Campus Experience as SBCCD Plans Next 100 Years San Bernardino’s Arrowhead Grove Lands $3 Million Boost for 132 Affordable Housing Units Pg. 5
San Bernardino Announces Winners of Its Route 66 Inspired “Love Your Block” Grant Pg. 5
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL SBVC student government candidates Jolene Ruiz, Annaih Estrada, Alani Chapman and Matthew Cano gather during April campaign activities on campus.
By Manny Sandoval Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: iecn1@mac.com Legals : iecnlegals@gmail.com
A
s the San Bernardino Community College District marks 100 years of service, student leaders at San Bernardino Valley College are raising a clear message about the district’s next century: affordability matters, but the student experience must remain at the center.
In April, students at SBVC and Crafton Hills College began campaigning for student government positions, with candidates speaking about campus engagement, food access, student support and the importance of helping students feel connected to college life. Their campaigns come as SBCCD invites students, residents, employers and
community leaders to participate in its Affordable College Survey, which will help guide how the district delivers education and workforce training over the next 10 to 20 years. For students running for office, the survey reflects many of the conversations already happening on campus — includSBCCD Survey, cont. next pg.