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I met Rich Rodriguez when I became Interim Chief at Commerce City PD. He was one of those ‘bigger than life’ cops, a leader whose influence reached far beyond the investigations unit he was assigned to. His reputation for building rapport with the most serious offenders, and the convictions that followed, made him a great investigator. Now he gives active officers the protective habits to survive the career, not just the call. We've saturated policing with tactical survival training. It's about time we provide relationship survival training too.

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I've known Rich Rodriguez for over 8 years. He's an accomplished investigator who stays calm under pressure, reads human behavior, and connects with people the way most can't. He was the highest-producing detective on the Sexual Assault Task Force, earning confessions while showing real compassion for victims, and became 1 of only 2 Master Detectives in a 175-person agency. As lead instructor he makes it practical and real. No theory. Lived experience. I'm proud to endorse Rich. Any agency or student who learns from him will benefit greatly.

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I have known Rich for several years and his competence and character are absolutely first rate. Officers will surely benefit from the depth and breadth of his experience.

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I've had the honor of serving alongside Rich Rodriguez for a decade. He is, hands down, one of the best detectives I've ever worked with. At the same time, Rich never avoided life's struggles either. Rich is one of the most devoted law enforcement officers AND family men I've ever met.

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I have had the distinct pleasure to work with Rich in Patrol and Investigations arenas. He has the knack to relate with victims, witnesses and suspects alike. Rich is a stellar detective and an incredible cop who has taken his expertise across multiple agencies. What makes his new training venture so vital is his willingness to talk about the stuff most instructors ignore. Rich knows that the hardest battles a cop fights usually happen off-duty. Rich is bringing a ton of life experience to the table, focusing not only on investigations and negotiations, but also on helping officers deal with the genuine, heavy problems that come with the badge. It will be honest, raw, and exactly the kind of training law enforcement officers need right now.

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I was fortunate enough to have worked with Detective Rich Rodriguez as his fellow partner in the Violent Crimes Unit for the Commerce City Police Department in the Denver metro area. At the time we partnered with each other I had already been in law enforcement for 32 years and had spent the prior 17 years as a violent crimes/homicide detective. Detective Rodriguez had more drive and more energy to solve crimes than anybody I had worked with before. I also have never seen anybody relate to the family of our victims the way he did with empathy and a genuine compassion that showed these secondary victims, their loved one mattered and all that could be done would be done to solve the case. Even after 32 years Detective Rodriguez demonstrated truly effective techniques from the scene to the interview room that I adopted as my own, and this is the best way I know to honor his legacy as my partner and my very good friend.

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Detective Rich Rodriguez is one of the hardest working and most dependable professionals I have ever had the privilege to supervise. Throughout our time together, he consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, an unwavering work ethic, and a commitment to excellence that set the standard for others. He leads by example in every sense, often stepping up without hesitation and tackling even the toughest assignments with skill and determination.

Detective Rodriguez has always been my go-to person, reliable, steady, and never once telling me “No” when the mission required extra effort. His breadth of experience is vast, and he uses that knowledge not only to excel in his own responsibilities but also to mentor and develop young officers and detectives. His ability to teach, guide, and inspire those around him has had a lasting impact on our team and the department as a whole.

Working with Detective Rodriguez has been an absolute pleasure. His professionalism, integrity, and leadership make him an invaluable asset to any organization, and I hold the utmost respect for his contributions and character.

Rich, whether as an investigator, a leader, a teammate, or simply a friend, is truly the best in every role he takes on. I am proud to call him a friend!