St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 Deputy Jesus Rodriguez has been named Officer of the Fourth Quarter for 2024. Deputy Rodriguez was recognized for his self-initiated actions to investigate a Flock notification prior to being dispatched which resulted in the arrest of a violent offender passing through our community, the recovery of a stolen vehicle, as well as potential evidence of additional crimes committed.
Sheriff Mike Tregre, along with Kurt Becnel, a representative of IMPCO, Inc. sponsor of the Officer Of The Fourth Quarter, recognized Deputy Rodriguez during a staff meeting at the Lloyd B. Johnson Training Center in LaPlace.
Deputy Rodriguez will be one of four officers considered for the 2024 Officer of the Year award during a ceremony this week.
Shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2024, St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office personnel received a Flock hit notification via public service and email in reference to a stolen vehicle in the area of U.S. 51 and Interstate 10. After receiving this notification, Deputy Rodriguez started toward the area of the Flock hit in an attempt to locate the stolen vehicle even though Headquarters had not dispatched the Flock hit. He arrived in the area and began canvassing the area, including nearby parking lots of the businesses for the stolen vehicle.
Approximately 10 minutes after receiving the initial notification of the Flock hit, Deputy Rodriguez had located the stolen SUV parked at the Chevron gas station on U.S. 51 and notified Headquarters of his findings. While waiting for additional units to arrive, Deputy Rodriguez observed that the stolen vehicle was occupied by a male driver and a second male seated in the front passenger seat.
Deputy Rodriguez confirmed with Headquarters that the vehicle was stolen and he, along with assisting deputies, detained both male subjects in the vehicle without incident. During the investigation, deputies noted a bullet hole on the exterior driver’s side of the vehicle, and ammunition was recovered from the inside of the stolen vehicle. It was learned that the driver of the vehicle provided a fake name to conceal his identity.
Through further investigation the driver was positively identified and confirmed as having active felony warrants for attempted second degree murder, home invasion, and armed robbery out of Tangipahoa Parish, and active warrants for possession of a stolen firearm and simple burglary out of Livingston Parish. He was also arrested for illegal possession of stolen things and resisting an officer by failure to identify.
Deputy Rodriguez’s actions exemplify a law enforcement officer’s oath to protect and serve.