Longtime Harlingen officer ‘ready to grow’ promoted to sergeant

HARLINGEN — She’s served the community for 18 years.

As a patrol officer, Marlena Rodriguez has been a field training officer and a breath test operator. She has received 12 awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and three life-saving awards with the Harlingen Police Department.

And now, Marlena Rodriguez has just been promoted to sergeant.

“Harlingen has been good to me,” said Rodriguez, who was promoted during a ceremony Sept. 18.

“I was ready to promote, of course,” said Rodriguez, 47. “I’m a patrol officer at heart so I will miss some of the little things as far as being a patrol officer but I was just ready to grow as an officer.”

Rodriguez started out as an officer in San Juan before transferring to Harlingen in 2013. She has earned the respect of many, and when she took the civil service exam for the promotion, she made the highest score.

She feels a great deal of pride and accomplishment in getting the promotion.

“A promotion to sergeant often comes after years of hard work, dedication, and achieving certain milestones,” Rodriguez said. “This can create a sense of pride in one’s professional development. I was al ready to transition from a role of being a patrol officer to a supervisory role.”

Rodriguez’s performance at the Harlingen Police Department has impressed everyone.

“Marlena is a really good patrol officer,” said Sgt. Larry Moore, support services executive public information officer.

“She’s been with us for quite a few years now,” Moore said. “She’s got a good head on her shoulders, smart, makes good decisions. And I think she’s gonna excel pretty well as a sergeant.”

The difference between a patrol officer and a sergeant is quite significant and will require some adjustment. Patrol officers are assigned a district and take a shift to work that area.

“She patrolled that district and answered calls,” Moore said. “Now, as a patrol sergeant, she’s not assigned a district anymore. When the officers come in at the beginning of a shift, she will be part of the shift briefing.”

Officers are briefed on any events that occurred in a previous shift. They are updated on any outstanding warrants.

“She assigns their districts to them,” Moore said. “If the officers have questions out in the field they call her now. If they need a supervisor on scene, she will go out there and be that supervisor for these officers. It’s a big transition.”

She’s looking forward to the new role.

“The new role brings opportunities to make a greater impact, contribute to the department’s success, and mentor junior officers,” she said.