FUSD - Hail to the Chief

Hail to the Chief

On June 16, 2011, the Fontana Unified School District welcomed Chief William Megenney, who will be taking over the helm of School Police Services from Chief Bob Ratcliffe. District and City staff and family members gathered to view the inspection of officers and to witness Chief Megenney and new Officers Nicole Hauptmann and Jon MacMillian as they took the oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony.

Getting to Know Chief Megenney

Growing up in neighboring Riverside, Chief Megenney graduated from John W. North High School in 1982. His father was a language professor at University of California, Riverside for 42 years, where he taught Spanish and Portuguese. Because the family traveled his father while he was working on his PhD, Chief Megenney said he was fortunate to have spent time in Colombia, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico where he was immersed in the Spanish language and can speak, read, and write Spanish, fluently.

Chief Megenney obtained a Bachelors of Arts degree in Liberal Arts/History from the University of California, Riverside and attended California State University, San Bernardino to take course work enabling him to obtain a commission as a reserve Officer (2nd Lieutenant) in the U.S. Army Reserves, Military Police Corps in 1987.

He began his long association with Fontana when he was hired by the Fontana Police Department and in 1988 attended the San Bernardino County Sherriff’s Police Academy. Chief Megenney has been with the Fontana Police Department for 23 years and during his tenure, has worked a wide variety of assignments, including: Patrol, School Police Officer, Sex Crimes/Crimes Against Children, Property Crimes, Multiple Enforcement Team – Gangs, Robbery/Homicide, Press Information Officer, Investigations, and Watch Commander.

When he isn’t “serving and protecting,” Chief Megenney is a devoted family man. “I have been married (to the same woman) for 23 years and have two children,” he said. “My son is currently attending UCR and my daughter is in her senior year of high school.”

Chief Megenney also has several diverse hobbies that keep him busy: hot rods, genealogy, travel, and playing the Great Highland Bagpipes. “I have a 1967 Chevy Camaro which I restored several years ago and has been shown in local car shows,” he said. “I have played the bagpipes now for about 12 years. I have played at numerous funerals, a wedding or two and other events here and there. I consider myself a complete amateur with this hobby. I am actually still working on my genealogy, but have traced my family (McGinney) back to Ireland during the mid-1600s. I can trace other portions of my family back to Wales in the 1300s.”