CHIEF GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ was born and raised in the city of Camden at a time when it was considered among the most dangerous cities in the United States. At the age of 19, he became an officer with the city’s police department, and after the department’s transformation in 2013, he reapplied and joined the newly created Camden County Police Department. He’s held a variety of roles throughout his career, and he is the first Latino person to lead the department.

Even before taking on his current role, Chief Rodriguez understood that the community needed to see and interact with the men and women working to protect their community. Officers needed to be a visible presence, and their energy needed to be used toward building trust, not fear. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he spearheaded a new initiative in South Camden that put officers back on the walking beat. Within months, longtime residents in the area reported noticeable drops in drug-related and other criminal activity.

Many consider Chief Rodriguez as the embodiment of the Camden County Police Department’s mission-oriented approach to community policing. He is widely known and recognized throughout the city for his relationships with Camden residents and for leading an organization that was heralded as a model for the United States during the summer of 2020.

Finding motivation in making sure no child living in Camden will ever have the same experiences he did while growing up there, Chief Rodriguez continues to ensure that residents feel a sense of community and a home they can feel truly safe in.

“I began my law enforcement career to help make this city safer for families like mine and to show them that the local police could be their ally in making that happen.”