The FACTS behind Lowell's Baker to Vegas Awards Ceremony held on 6-14-06

On May 10, 2006, the Fontana Amateur Radio Association (FARA) held it's monthly meeting. Officer Rillera made a surprise visit for the sole purpose to inform us that he really appreciated the work RACES and our High Desert counterpart did to help the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay Race to be successful. He stated that for our next meeting, dated 14 June 2006, he was going to treat us all to Pizza. We were thrilled as we all love pizza (hehe)! After he left us to return to duty a conspiracy was born. Our illustrious colleague, friend and Father of the FARA/RACES repeater, Jim Kalberg, KA6GRF, suggested that since we began to work with the B2V team, Lowell has always been the focal point of the logistics of the race for the Fontana Police Department and for all the support groups involved, yet was never really recognized for his unending zeal for the  Fontana PD Officer's participation in this most prestigious race. Furthermore, it never ceased to amaze the RACES people of Lowell's endurance in support of the race. We felt that it was time that Officer Rillera was recognized for his relentless pursuit of showing that the Fontana Police Department was in a class of it's own; dedicated; enforcers of the "rule of law"; protectors of the Constitution of the United States of America; and just a bunch of really nice guys and gals. So we decided that it was time to recognize Officer Lowell Rillera. The plan, finally agreed upon, was to have Lt. Chris Tronaas inform Officer Rillera that the upcoming FARA meeting had been cancelled due to conflicting activities and would be resumed the following month. Lt. Tronaas then conspired with Fontana Police Dispatch to reserve Officer Rillera for this special "Domestic Dispute" call which was designed to bring him to the "scene of the crime" ( read the text transmission from Dispatch. I would like to give credit to those witty and creative FPD dispatchers for their brilliant creation of this complaint). Officer Rillera was  in the process of training Police Officer Trainee, Miles Franks (Sorry Miles; we really didn't mean to get you involved in this...just the luck of the draw I guess...besides, you got a free meal out of it...hehe). The employees of the Big Apple signaled us that Officers Rillera and Franks had arrived. We took our places to await the unsuspecting pigeons to come through the door. When they entered the room it became immediately apparent that the surprise was a complete and total success (see the look on Lowell's face)! After the excitement subsided we all sat down to enjoy a most delicious meal prepared by the fine chefs at The Big Apple Restaurant. You can view the photos of our evening here.