Hispanic Heritage Month: First Hispanic female sergeant reaches milestone

Maria Rodriguez, the first Hispanic female sergeant in the Dallas ISD Police Department, has achieved a significant milestone in her community. Born and raised in Dallas, she attended various Dallas ISD legacy schools, including Maple Lawn Elementary School and Thomas Jefferson High School, where she was active in extracurricular activities such as the Liberty Belles and martial arts.

In 2010, she joined Dallas ISD as a teacher assistant at Skyline High School, where she met officer Alan Miles, who encouraged her to apply to the Dallas ISD police. At the time, Rodriguez’s son was 2 years old and needed attention, but she decided to join the police academy anyway and graduated in 2015.

Promoted to sergeant in December 2023, Rodriguez shared her pride in being the first Hispanic woman to achieve this rank within the department.

“I hope it paves the way for other Hispanic women,” she said, acknowledging the challenges of working in a male-dominated field. “Courage, resilience, and perseverance are key.”

Having worked as a detective for six years before her promotion, she credits her faith and strong support system for helping her navigate the challenges of her profession. Faith and family have been significant influences in her journey. 

“God gives me the wisdom to deal with situations as a police officer, and my supportive husband keeps me grounded,” she said. 

When asked about her impact on the Hispanic community, she highlighted the importance of representation. 

“Just by doing a good job with integrity and honesty, I hope others can see themselves in me and be inspired to pursue their dreams,” she said. She also shared a message for Hispanic students, encouraging them to “not let fear or limitations hold them back” and to see the possibilities in their future.

Rodriguez’s parents constantly encourage her to work diligently and represent the community with honor. 

“I am here to help,” she said. 

Parents often come to Rodriguez to discuss their concerns because they feel comfortable approaching someone who speaks and looks like them.

Her passion for community engagement is evident in her commitment to educating students about law enforcement. As a frontline supervisor for Bravo Patrol, she plans to work closely with students and parents to build strong relationships and mentor young people, particularly those who may lack positive role models at home.

“Mentoring and building relationships with students is a top priority,” she said, believing that early education on the law can prevent future issues.

“Many students within the district already come with challenges when they step in the door of the school,” she said. Students are looking for role models.

Looking ahead, Rodriguez hopes to increase Hispanic representation in law enforcement and continue educating students on the importance of making good choices. She believes that more Hispanic males and females are needed in the field and emphasized the importance of diversity in fostering trust and understanding between the community and law enforcement.

“Hispanic Heritage month is a time to reflect what we have overcome as a community and look at the future with a smile.” Rodriguez said. “Live life with joy and happiness.”