Mag Instrument founder gets kudos from law enforcement

One of the Inland Empire’s most enthusiastic supporters of law enforcement got some recognition for his efforts Thursday.

Anthony Maglica, founder and chief executive officer of Mag Instrument Inc. in Ontario, received an award from the National Law Enforcement Museum, which is scheduled to open in Washington, D.C. next month.

During a brief ceremony at the company headquarters, Maglica was recognized for his recent $1 million donation to the long-planned museum.

David Brant, the museum’s executive director, presented Maglica with a shadow box that included several artifacts. One of those was a flag that flew above the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, which is near the museum site.

Maglica, whose sturdy Maglite flashlights are used by law enforcement, first responders and the U.S. military, also received certificates from Supervisor Curt Hagman and the Ontario City Council.

“When a police officer goes out on the job he doesn’t know if he’s going to come back that night,” Maglica told the small gathering, which included officers from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the Ontario Police Department. “Their family doesn’t know if they’re coming back, and a lot of times they get persecuted just for doing their jobs. “Who else has a  job like that?”

Maglica has been a supporter of the museum since it was first proposed in the early 2000s, according to Brant.

“Without the support of Tony and other people like him, the museum might never have happened, Brant said.