Barker November 2017

School News
CYPRESS-FAIRBANKS I.S.D. - WWW.CFISD.NET
IMPORTANT DATES:
November 20 th - 24 th – Student/Staff Holidays
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD police officers receive barbecue plates prepared by
members of the CFISD transportation, facilities and construction, food service and
operations departments.
Eric Mendez, CFISD chief of police, gives a few
remarks to those in attendance at the fifth
annual CFPD/Security Department Appreciation
Luncheon.
Officer Roman Ramos stands next to the
drone he won.
Bill Powell (left), director of transportation, opens the Appreciation Luncheon by
welcoming officers and members from supporting departments.
Members of the CFISD transportation, facilities and construction, food
service and operations departments serve barbecue plates.
CFISD Support Departments Honor District Law Enforcement With Luncheon
CFISD has a new chief of police, but the district still has the same level of appreciation. And Chief Eric Mendez wasn’t shy with his gratitude before,
during and after the fifth annual CFPD/Security Department Appreciation Luncheon, put on by the staff from CFISD’s transportation, facilities and
construction and operations teams Oct. 9 th at Cy-Fair High School. “In 27 years in law enforcement, I have never seen anything like this type of event,”
said Mendez, who joined CFISD in July. “That is specifically to support a police department and just to give them appreciation for what they do day in
and day out. It’s pretty awesome to see this from the community and the departments within the district.” Combining their efforts, volunteers from
numerous departments worked shifts over the weekend to prepare a barbecue lunch for CFISD’s men and women in blue. It’s the transformation
from what started as a simple idea to give thanks and a grill outside the Telge Transportation Center cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. Bill Powell,
director of transportation, bought retired Chief Alan Bragg lunch one day six years ago, picking up the tab on a hamburger to show his appreciation.
It turned into burgers and hot dogs. Then came Bridget Roome, transportation data management specialist and her husband Paul, facilities and
construction special projects manager, who took the luncheon to the next level. Workers from the departments served lunch and even provided
musical entertainment to the honored guests. CFISD campuses and transportation centers joined in the effort, buying “We Love CFPD” shirts to help
support the luncheon. The luncheon received more than $15,000 in donations and officer giveaways from area businesses and individuals. In addition
to simply giving thanks, Powell said the luncheon was also a chance for fellowship between the departments. It helped ease frustration and differing
philosophies when Powell and Bragg met for lunch and has become a way for entire departments do the same.
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November 2017 | The Barker