At the June 23, 2010 Board of Education meeting, one of our FUSD School Police Officers was honored for receiving the Life Saving Award. Corporal Ric Zbinden was awarded the Life Saving Award at the 2010 City of Fontana Police, Fire and FUSD Police Recognition Ceremony at the Steelworkers Auditorium on May 20th.  FUSD Police Chief Bob Ratcliffe explained just what Corporal Zbinden did to earn this special award.

Corporal Zbinden was on patrol on March 12th, at approximately 1:00 in the morning when he heard an emergency call to respond to a "baby not breathing" situation right around the corner from where he was patrolling.  He arrived at the scene to find two-year-old Jezebel Rodriguez in her mother's arms.  "Jezebel was lifeless, not breathing," said Chief Ratcliffe.  "Corporal Zbinden took the baby, started CPR, and she came back and she is fine.  Because of his actions, because of his decisiveness, and the idea that he 'wasn’t going to let this happen on my shift tonight,' he brought her back."  The FUSD Board of Education and the attendees at the Board Meeting gave Corporal Zbinden a standing ovation.

“It is only through some of the excellent training that I was able to do this," said Corporal Zbinden.  "The Chief has provided us with a lot of opportunities to train, ongoing education, CPR was given in-house here.  That training just kicked in at the time.  I want to thank the Board for placing the Chief that we have in place because he has provided us with a lot of opportunities that previously we did not have."

Although Jezebel and her parents were unable to attend the Board Meeting, they were present at the 2010 City of Fontana Police, Fire and FUSD Police Recognition Ceremony when Corporal Zbinden received the Life Saving medal and the red and white pin he now wears on his uniform.