FONTANA, CA – Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) has launched its first-ever Fontana School Police Department (FSPD) Cadet Program, providing a pathway for public safety career technical education (CTE) graduates to return to the District for an exclusive opportunity to build their experience in the field.

The program welcomed its first cadets: Zachary Flores and Nadia Whiting, two Jurupa Hills High School graduates who completed Fontana Unified’s public safety CTE pathway and are now gaining firsthand experience with the FSPD.

Whiting, a Fontana Unified alumna who attended Maple Elementary School and Alder Middle School before graduating from Jurupa Hills High in 2023, joined the District’s public safety pathway as a freshman and rose to the rank of chief, laying the foundation for her return to the District as a cadet.

“I feel privileged to have the opportunity to give back to my community,” Whiting, who currently attends Cal Poly Pomona as a third-year music pedagogy major, said. “The hard work I have put in to achieve my cadet position makes it all the more significant to support the community that has contributed to my growth.”

During her time in the CTE program, Whiting said she developed discipline and lasting connections with the classmates and instructors who supported her. She now carries those lessons into her cadet role while preparing for a future career in education.

Flores, a Class of 2025 Jurupa Hills High graduate who attended Palmetto Elementary School and Harry S. Truman Middle School, was introduced to law enforcement through his brother-in-law, who Flores said has served as a mentor and role model in his life.

“I feel honored to have the opportunity to give back to my community, especially since I attended schools in this District,” Flores, who currently studies criminal justice at California State University, San Bernardino, said. “I also hope to set a positive example for others by showing that hard work, dedication, and service can make a difference even at a young age.”

That positive influence grew during his time in the law enforcement CTE program, where Flores took on roles as a class captain and assistant chief, helping newer cadets build confidence while developing his own interest in public service. Flores said he hopes to pursue a law enforcement career that allows him to mentor future recruits.

Through the program, cadets receive training in department operations and support staff with a range of duties, including front desk assistance, radio etiquette, dispatch exposure, Live Scan support, and ride-along opportunities. The experience is intended to help cadets explore potential careers as dispatchers, probation officers, district safety officers, or other public safety professionals.

“For decades, police cadet programs have provided young adults with valuable exposure to the law enforcement profession,” FSPD Chief Richard Randolph said. “This partnership allows our staff to mentor and educate students interested in public safety while giving them real-world learning opportunities that support their educational goals.”

Fontana High Schools’s law enforcement pathway is a Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN) National Program of Excellence, a distinction that recognizes public safety programs that prepare students at a high level for careers in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency management, legal studies, and related fields.

“Zachary and Nadia are wonderful examples of what happens when students are given strong career pathways and the support to keep moving forward,” Superintendent Miki R. Inbody said. “We are excited to see them continue their journey with the Fontana School Police Department while serving the community that supported them along the way.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

FUSD_CADETS1: Fontana Unified School Police Department Cadets Nadia Whiting (center in blue, left) and Zachary Flores (center in blue, right) gain hands-on experience through the District’s first cadet program, which provides public safety CTE graduates with paid, part-time training and career exploration opportunities.