New class of deputies off to school

Based on his running times, Spokane County’s newest deputy sheriff already is being called The Gazelle.

But chasing down criminals will have to wait four months for Deputy Juan Rodriguez, who is headed to the state law enforcement academy at Burien for training. The first Mexican national to be hired at the Sheriff’s Office, the new deputy said during his swearing-in ceremony Friday that it was the realization of a lifelong dream.

“Law enforcement is my true calling,” said Rodriguez, a 31-year-old former pole vaulter and track runner. “I don’t like it when people get treated unfairly. They are just looking for help, looking to turn to somebody.

“I’m afraid to say that in today’s society, there are a lot of people who just kind of look the other way. I’ve never been that type of a person.”

Rodriguez joined two former jail corrections officers, a truck mechanic and their families Friday to take the oath to become Spokane County’s newest deputies. On Monday, they start the grueling 17-week academy at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

“We are pretty fortunate in Spokane,” Sheriff Mark Sterk told the new recruits and their families. “It’s a fairly safe place to live and have a career in law enforcement.”

After the police academy, the deputies will get further instruction from training deputies.

“We are going to train them to be as safe as they can be. And yet, they are going to be out there doing a dangerous job,” Sterk said.

Rodriguez’s father moved the family to southern Oregon when Juan was 6. He attended the public school system before graduating from Idaho State University with a degree in biology. Most recently, Rodriguez has been working as a construction electrician.

“Biology was just something that I was good at,” Rodriguez said. Working as an electrician “was something that I did. You get into situations where it’s more responsibility for you and your family.

“But if I would have stayed in that field, I would not have been challenged and not fulfilled.”

Shonnel Rodriguez, 27, said the four months in the academy will be the first extended time she has been apart from Juan in the 13 years they’ve been together.

During that time, she must work at her own job and care for the couple’s three children, three dogs, two parrots and an iguana.

“I was really excited when he said he was going to go do it,” she said. “He liked being an electrician but it wasn’t what he wanted to do with his life.”

Other than a fear of guns, Shonnel Rodriguez said she’s not too concerned about the inherent danger of police work. Juan feels the same way.

“I’m very positive that we are going get the best training possible to equip me for most any situations,” he said. “A lot of it with a police officer is common sense and intelligence and your attitude towards people. If you respect them, you can defuse a lot of situations that way.”

Sterk alluded to Rodriguez’ past as a 400 meters runner and pole vaulter when he introduced him Friday.

“I understand you are fairly fast,” Sterk said to Rodriguez. “So let the bad guys be warned. We’ve got somebody who can catch you.”

Rodriguez took the Spokane County Civil Service test three times before he scored at the top of the list.

“These are the first guys who gave me a true shot,” he said. “I’m really excited to serve for them and serve the community.”