Four-year-old sworn in as honorary colton officer, sparks community buzz

A Colton, California, four-year-old boy is making waves after being officially sworn in as an honorary police officer – a move that’s ignited a surprising amount of enthusiasm within the community and prompted a renewed focus on officer engagement.

A birthday request turns into a badge ceremony

It all began with a simple birthday wish. Ezra Galicia, a budding police enthusiast, reportedly contacted the Colton Police Department dispatch line early this year, requesting that officers attend his party. This initial outreach, documented by his aunt, Elyssa Shaw, quickly blossomed into a full-fledged recognition of Ezra’s genuine passion for law enforcement.

Rather than a traditional oath of service, Ezra took a decidedly more personal pledge, promising to ‘do good’ and, perhaps most importantly, to listen to his parents and aunt. The department, clearly charmed, responded with a custom Colton Police uniform and a personalized badge – a tangible symbol of his honorary status.

Viral moment, officer inspiration

The swearing-in ceremony, captured on video and posted to the Colton Police Department’s Instagram page, has since garnered over 10 million views, transforming a local event into a national phenomenon. The sheer volume of attention has, according to Chief Anthony Vega, invigorated the department’s officers. “He’s so loyal and committed,” Vega stated, “his aunt said I had to make the call. Once we put that together, we were all just hooked. He motivated and inspired us.”

The event served as a catalyst, honoring several officers for their community involvement alongside young Ezra. His mother, Salina Galicia, described the experience as “a blessing, honestly, to see my son shine through this.” And father, Luis Galicia, added, “You can see the proudness in him – confidence, like, 'I’m a real officer now.'