RIPON — Ripon Police officer Scott Lindsey and school crossing guard Dorothy Patterson were lauded at a retirement luncheon held in their honor  last Thursday at the Ripon Community Center.

Before joining the Ripon department, Lindsey had worked as a reserve on several police agencies including Stanford University.  Most recently he could be recognized as the officer on day shift in the black undercover police car.  For a number of years Lindsey also served as a school resource officer in the community – having a knack with straight talk that served its purpose with unruly teens.

Patterson took her assignment seriously 50 years ago when she began keeping a watchful eye on the elementary school students who had to cross the busy Main Street intersection both in the mornings and afternoons.  Traffic was a concern when parents were driving their children to the front of the school.

She had applied for the position initially to keep an eye on her oldest son who was beginning school at Ripon Elementary.  Patterson said it had worked equally well for the other three of her offspring that followed in his footsteps.

Following the luncheon that had been limited to families and city staff members, there was a reception for the general public later in the afternoon.