Page A14 • March 21, 2013 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers Colton Police memorialize Morgan Earp, family legacy

Photos/Cynthia Mendoza

Back, from left: Colton Police Officer and president of the Colton Police Officers Association Rich Randolph, Colton Police Chief Steve Ward; front, from left: Colton Police officers Simon Holding, Photos/Cynthia Mendoza Saul Salazar, Colton Mayor Sarah Zamora, Colton Historical Preservation Commission Chairman Don Earp, Councilwoman Susan Oliva, Officer Chad Ward and Corporal Ray Mendez, on Monday, Brothers “Virgil” and “Wyatt” Earp (Don Earp and re-enactment March 18 at the Morgan Earp Memorial Ceremony at Hermosa Gardens Cemetery. actor John Gilbert) share a photo opportunity together by the tomb and memorial plaque of their brother Morgan, at Hermosa Gardens Cemetery in Colton. According to Gilbert, who has stud - ment today. They were also pio - sensitive situations. ied the Earp family legacy extensively, a little known fact about Wyatt, who was played by Kurt Russell in the movie Tombstone, Cynthia Mendoza neers and leaders in the sense that The service on Monday included many of the values and practices guests such as Colton Mayor Sarah is that he loved kids and ice cream, even though kids were afraid n Monday, March 18, the they established are still embraced Zamora, council members Susan of him because of “the stare.” Colton Police Officers As - to this day in law enforcement train - Oliva, David Toro and Frank he said. “Many [of those lessons] have so many people interested in sociation (CPOA) cele - ing. So legendary is the family that Navarro, former council member are still used in training 131 years the Earp family and our legacy and brated the life and legacy of the the 1993 movie called Tombstone, Richard De La Rosa, Chair of the later.” history” said Don Earp, Chairman much beloved and famous lawman starring Kurt Russell and Val Parks and Recreation Commission O Kilmer, is based on them and many Tony Soto, San Bernardino County Hovin added that the last law en - of the Colton Historical Preserva - U.S. Marshal Morgan Earp, who forcement member of the Earp fam - tion Commission and former presi - was shot and killed in a gun battle of the events that took place in Sherriff John McMahon as well as Tombstone, Arizona in 1882. When California Law Enforcement His - ily, Michael Earp, retired from the dent of the Colton Area Museum, torical Museum Director Gary U.S. Marshals Office in 2012. about what the anniversary badge Hovin, Presidential Appointee Colton Police Chief Steve Ward and plaque meant to him and his United States Marshal, David also presented the anniversary family. “We have so much gratitude Singer and Mr. Donald Earp, Mor - badge to Hovin for inclusion in the to so many people wanting to cele - gan Earp’s second cousin as well as California Law Enforcement Mu - brate our family history.” members of the community at large. seum. During the ceremony, Hovin “It’s tremendously humbling to spoke on how many things have changed since even his early days in law enforcement, namely the very advanced technology and high speed communication methods they now employ as well as new training Mexican Restaurant • The Finest Mexican Food methods, but the one thing that has not changed is the fight in good ver - sus evil and right versus wrong. Pescado A LaS Pervlead nw/ctorhtilla as,D beiannsn, reicre & soup or salad He also touched upon the impor - only w/ad good until 3/29/13 tance of Morgan Earp’s life. “On that day we lost a 30-year-old $8.95 916 S. Riverside Ave., Rialto 909/820-0198 Photos/Cynthia Mendoza deputy but we will never forget the lessons left by him and his family,” The anniversary badge celebrating the 131st anniversary of the death in the line of duty of Morgan Earp, bears the image of Mor - gan’s brother Virgil, Colton’s first formal “lawman” The badge was designed by Colton Police Corporal Bob Drey. in the line of duty 131 years ago on Morgan Earp was killed during the March 18, 1882 in Tombstone, Ari - famous gun battle, his body was zona. The famous gunfight is transported by train to the city of known worldwide as the “gunfight Colton and laid to rest at Hermosa at the OK Corral” and included his Cemetery. brothers Wyatt and Virgil. A special Apart from the memorial plaque, memorial plaque was placed in the Colton Police Department is front of Morgan Earp’s existing also sporting specially designed an - tomb. niversary badges with Virgil Earp’s As many Coltonites know, the fa - likeness on them. The badge was mous Earp family was Colton’s first designed by Colton Police Corporal formal law enforcement body. The Bob Drey. The Colton Police Offi - Colton police department began cer’s Association hopes to make with a town marshal, the legendary this memorial event an annual one Virgil Earp. Colton was incorpo - to recognize the Earp family’s serv - rated in 1887 and Virgil became the ice and commitment to law enforce - first marshal, with a salary of $75 ment. According to Colton Police month. He served until 1889. Corporal Ray Mendez, the anniver - The Earp family was not only the sary badges have become some - first law enforcement in the city but thing of an ice-breaker and they were also very influential to conversation piece when officers the men and women in the depart - are out and about in the community and dealing with sometimes very