Colton Police Department Surprises 4-Year-Old Birthday Boy

Officers visit young fan's home to celebrate his police-themed party

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:13am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a young boy playing with toy police cars and other law enforcement-themed toys, surrounded by a warm, hazy light that captures the joy and wonder of a child's fascination with the world of law enforcement.A young boy's police-themed birthday celebration is made extra special by a surprise visit from his local police department.Colton Today

A 4-year-old boy in Colton, California, received a special birthday surprise when the Colton Police Department visited his home to celebrate his police-themed party. The boy's aunt had called the non-emergency dispatch line to request the visit, and over half a dozen uniformed officers arrived to wish the boy a happy birthday, give him police-themed gifts, and take photos with him.

Why it matters

The visit from the police officers not only made the young boy's birthday extra special, but it also helped strengthen the community relationship between the Colton Police Department and local residents. The boy's love of law enforcement from a young age is a heartwarming example of how positive interactions with police can inspire the next generation.

The details

Ezra Shaw, a 4-year-old Colton resident, is a huge fan of the Colton Police Department. His aunt, Elyssa Shaw, called the non-emergency dispatch line to request that officers stop by Ezra's birthday party, which had a police theme. To Elyssa's surprise, the department was able to accommodate the request, and more than half a dozen uniformed officers arrived at Ezra's home to celebrate with him. The officers gave Ezra a toy patrol car, a coloring book, and took several photos and videos with the birthday boy.

  • On January 31, Elyssa Shaw called the Colton Police Department's non-emergency dispatch line to request a birthday visit for her nephew.
  • The police officers visited Ezra's home on his 4th birthday party on April 4, 2026.

The players

Ezra Shaw

A 4-year-old Colton resident who is a big fan of the Colton Police Department.

Elyssa Shaw

Ezra's aunt who called the Colton Police Department to request a birthday visit for her nephew.

Luis and Salina Galicia

Ezra's parents, who say his love for law enforcement began when he was a baby.

Colton Police Department

The police department that sent over half a dozen uniformed officers to visit Ezra on his birthday.

Jillian Nunez

A Colton PD officer who said they were able to attend Ezra's birthday party because their calls that day were manageable.

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What they’re saying

“My nephew is having a birthday party today, it's a police theme. He's four and he loves Colton police specifically, I was just wondering if there is anybody patrolling, if they would be able to stop by just to say hi?”

— Elyssa Shaw, Ezra's aunt

“He loves that they go after the bad guys, so after that, that was it, his love for police.”

— Salina Galicia, Ezra's mother

“We asked our sergeant for permission to attend, and we were able to make that happen.”

— Jillian Nunez, Colton PD officer

“It just further establishes that community relationship and we were able to make that day even more special for him.”

— Jillian Nunez, Colton PD officer

The takeaway

This heartwarming story showcases the positive impact that law enforcement can have on young community members. Ezra's love of police officers from a young age is a testament to the importance of building strong relationships between police departments and the families they serve. The Colton Police Department's willingness to go above and beyond for Ezra's birthday celebration is a shining example of how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in people's lives.