Colton Bids Happy Farewell to Chief Ward

Officially retiring March 8, Colton's Police Chief Steve Ward was honored at the March 3 City Council meeting for his nearly 30 years of public service to the city of Colton. Ward spent the entirety of his law enforcement career, which spanned 29 years, with the city - but his roots go deeper than that, explained Mayor Richard De La Rosa. "He has been in this community since he was a little boy. He has gone through our schools. His grandfather, and I believe his grandmother, lived...in Colton," De La Rosa said. "As the mayor and the city council, we're very proud to say that the individual that's retiring tonight didn't just come to the city to work. He lived in Colton. He knew Colton, and going out, it's hard to see a man like this leave our city, but it's good to see him retiring." Ward began his career with the Colton Police Department in August 1986 as a patrol officer and over the years worked his way up through several leadership positions in the department, including corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and captain before being named police chief in 2011. Through his years of service, Ward worked with traffic detail, the Multiple Enforcement Team, as a narcotics officer, a S.M.A.S.H. officer and the Neighborhood Enrichment Team. Ward was also a member of the department's Special Weapons and Tactics Team. Ward took the podium during a ceremonial recognition to briefly recount his years with the department. "When I first applied to the Colton Police Department, the lieutenant who did the last of the testing asked me, 'When you retire, where do you want to be?' I told him I'd like to be a K9 officer or maybe a detective. He said, 'That's all?' And I said, 'That's all? That's the pinnacle of law enforcement.' That's what I wanted to do. The fact that I made chief...it's (thanks to) everybody in this room," Ward said. Ward, who was surrounded by his family, friends, Colton police officers and members of the California Highway Patrol, reminisced about his swearing-in as police chief by former Mayor Sarah Zamora in 2011, saying he often looked at the photographs from that day, which were hung in his office. Now, Ward said it was his intention to spend time with his family upon his retirement. Former Mayor Sarah Zamora and former Councilmember Susan Oliva helped Mayor De La Rosa read and present a resolution of accomplishment to Ward from the city for his service. "Many have come to know Steve as a person that holds sacred the values of family, integrity, understanding, cooperation, and with the guidance of his simple motto, Always be Fair and Consistent, has allowed him to achieve success with the city of Colton," Zamora read. San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales also presented Ward with a resolution signed by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, led by Chairman James Ramos. "I want you, in your retirement, to continue to be the person that we know you are, to be strong, to continue to be positive and a benefit and an asset to this community. This is not the end. It may be the end of a professional career, but i believe that the best is always yet to come. Enjoy the benefits of all your hard work," Gonzales told Ward. Ward said he hoped he provided stability for the city and its residents through the years, and, recalling the words of Colton Fire Chief Tom Hendrix upon his retirement. "When Chief Hendrix retired he said he wanted to retire as a firefighter. I to want to retire as a police officer. That's why I came on with this police department." Ward made the recommendation to the council to appoint Lt. Joe Gutierrez as the city's new police chief in a written statement released Feb. 27. The Colton City Council was expected to discuss the appointment of a new police chief during closed session at the March 3 regular meeting.