1 year ago
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PARLIER, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Parlier High School's Student Resource Officer Juan Rodriguez passed distant successful his location from chartless health-related issues on Nov. 9. Since that time students person mourned Rodriguez and each that helium represented.
Parlier High School Principal Jenna Chavez says though Officer Rodriguez carried a weapon and a bulletproof vest, his demeanor was truthful lukewarm and benignant that students and unit ever felt harmless astir him.
"He precise kind-hearted," Chavez said. "He would basal extracurricular and adjacent handshake the kids and fist bump them and person truly bully conversation."
Chavez says Rodriguez connected to each students, adjacent Spanish speakers, arsenic Rodriguez was Spanish-speaking himself.
Since Rodriguez's passing, unit astatine Parlier High School person allowed students to permission flowers adjacent his patrol car to memorialize him. On Nov. 18, students held a candlelight vigil successful his memory.
On Thursday, the Parlier Police Department on with Rodriguez's household drove past the schoolhouse and were greeted by dozens of students with posters and adjacent archetypal creation to commemorate Rodriguez's life.
Parlier High School student, Jazlene Carrillo, says she's been drafting and coating since 4th grade. On the time of Rodriguez's memorial, she drew and painted a representation of Rodriguez for his family.
"I've been wanting to bash this for idiosyncratic special," Carrillo said.
Another pupil named Jose Flores says Rodriguez offered much than advice; Rodriguez offered friendship, respect, and spot similar nary 1 else.
"He would conscionable like, speech to us, marque america laugh," Flores said. "[And] hide astir atrocious things astatine home. I had amusive with him."
Flores says Rodriguez treated him with the aforesaid esteem arsenic immoderate workfellow oregon confidant and showed him what it meant to beryllium a existent friend.
"He was a truly bully officer," Flores said. "Honestly I would spot him arsenic much than an officer. He was truly adjacent to me. I would spot him arsenic a friend."
