20 years on the force: Manassas police officer gives guidance, advice to students

MANASSAS — Master police officer TJ Rodriquez spoke to students Tuesday about making an impact on the community and finding a purpose.

Drawing from his 20 years of experience in law enforcement, Rodriquez reflected on shifts in his career and life that led to his current position training new recruits for the Manassas City Police Department. He noted that life circumstances may change, but passion can always be present.

Students who came to CENTERFUSE co-working space in Downtown Manassas to hear him speak were asked about their particular passions. Their answers ranged from mathematics to perseverance and investigative journalism. Rodriquez noted that these could all be put to use in helping the city.

“What is going to be your impact on your community?” he asked.

Rodriquez joined the Marine Corps at age 17, served at Quantico, and has worked in many capacities of law enforcement,  including on a SWAT team, a reconnaissance unit.

Rodriquez has found his passion working with new talent.

“My purpose is educating young officers and leading that legacy of making sure they go home every night safely to their families,” he said. Some of the officers Rodriquez has trained are now lieutenants. He also served as school resource officer for Osbourn High School in Manassas.

Involvement with the youth in Manassas has proven crucial for increasing local law enforcement. “We invest in our kids at Osbourn and other schools, and many of them have gone off to college and returned to be on the Manassas force,” Rodriquez shared.

Rodriquez reflected that the best feeling he experiences is watching a young person who has struggled in school walk across the stage to get their diploma. Their perseverance and bright future are “inspiring” to him.

“Don’t be discouraged by people telling you that you’re too young,” he said.  “Young people are our future and you do have what it takes.  

“Start now,” Rodriquez urged attendees. “You’ll be surprised at how much easier it gets to make an impact down the road.”

Students from Seton and Osbourn high schools attended Tuesday’s speaker session at the co-working space.

Connecting with the community is a priority for Manassas police. The department holds many events for residents to get to know officers, including two held last week – “Coffee with a Cop” at a Starbucks on Liberia Avenue and “Cops and Cones” at a popular ice cream joint Nathan’s Dairy Bar on Mathis Avenue.

The police department is now looking to the future and is preparing to announce strategic goals, direction and vision for the department in 2019. It also plans to release more information on a new Public Safety Facility to be built on Grant Avenue near downtown.

Mayor Hal Parrish was present and thanked Rodriquez for his dedication.

“It’s easy for me to see TJ’s pride in his recruits and the young people he’s worked with,” said Mayor Parrish. “The City of Manassas has one of the finest police departments in the nation,” he said.

The talk is the fifth event in the “Shadow for a Day” series initiated by Theresa Coates Ellis, a candidate running for election to the Manassas City Council in November. Engineers, architects, and financial managers have also presented, and Ellis hopes to feature trades in upcoming events. The idea is to provide a space for students and professionals to network and connect.

Up next is “Media and Event Planning” with James Whitley of Grand Master Studios on September 25.