The students of Don Lugo High School expected another routine assembly. What they got was Officer Ryan Tillman stealing the show with his best dance moves. The soon-to-be-promoted school resource officer turned his farewell into a celebration no one will forget.
“I needed to do something special for my kids,” Tillman explained, using the affectionate term he’d come to use for the students. With help from the school’s dance team, he transformed the auditorium into his personal stage, proving police officers can be approachable—and surprisingly light on their feet.
His eighteen months at the school had shattered his own expectations about the role. “You’re not just enforcing rules,” he realized. “You’re building trust.” Now as he prepares for his new position as Chino Police Corporal, Tillman leaves behind more than just dance memories—he leaves a blueprint for positive police-youth relationships.
