At the June 1, 2011 FUSD Board of Education Meeting, the friends and colleagues gathered to bid farewell to School Police Chief Bob Ratcliffe.

Attempting to keep this very public tribute a secret from our quiet and unassuming Chief by listing it on the board agenda simply as “Employee Recognition” almost worked, too. “I kind of got the hint,” said Chief Bob. “You know in police school they teach you to look for clues. So, the clue that something was going to happen this evening was when the whole department was showing up. I thought, ‘Well, that’s nice that they’re coming in for my last meeting.’ But this is overwhelming!”

Superintendent Cali Olsen-Binks kicked-off the tribute by thanking City of Fontana Police Chief Rodney Jones. “Several years ago under Chief Larry Clark’s leadership, the Board of Education directed me to meet with the City and establish some kind of working relationship for the support of our Police Department because we were struggling. We were struggling as a team, as a unit, as a police department, and we needed an intervention. Definitely leadership was at the top of the order for our needs. Through the contract that we were able to establish with the City Police Department, we’ve had some incredible people come in and out of our department. I thank you wholeheartedly for allowing that to continue and for giving us the gift of Chief Robert Ratcliffe.”

In attempting to find the words to describe Chief Bob, Mrs. Olsen-Binks said that she found inspiration in a rather unusual place – the bracelet on her wrist. “This bracelet is called a 'Humanity Bracelet' and it was given to me by a woman when I first became Superintendent,” she said. The woman told her, “When times get tough and when you feel like you are straying away from who you are and your core values, reflect on this bracelet.” As she looked at the bracelet, Mrs. Olsen-Binks said that realized that the words describe the qualities of Chief Bob: Loyalty, Unity, Passion, Joy, Humor, Hope, Courage, Love, Trust and Honor.

Board President Barbra Chavez agreed, “You know, for years, as an advocate, my battles were with School Police. When you came in, we met and I explained to you why I fought so hard and about my passion and I knew that you were the one. In these past three years, I’ve seen the culture change. I’ve seen everything that you’ve done. I’ve seen the lives that you have saved. I have had a few heroes in my life - Cesar Chavez, Mother Teresa, and I’m putting you there.“

”When you’re given a job, you’ve got to own it,” said Chief Bob. “And if you’re not going to own it, you’re not going to do it right."  He added, "I feel like the father of the bride.  I’m about to walk the bride (pointing to the officers in the audience) down the aisle and hand it to the next guy.”  The next guy, Chief William Megenney, will be sworn in at a special ceremony on June 16th.

We all wish Chief Bob the best as he returns to the Fontana Police Department. “I’m going to (be working) weekends, by the way,” he added. “Thanks to the Chief (Jones) - twenty-seven years in and I’m going back to weekends. But I’m okay with that.”