GILROY
– In a distinctly modern scenario, Gilroy residents Dan
Rodriguez and Luis Mitre have matched their wives’ rank in the
Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department.
Both men are now sergeants, a title conferred on their wives two
years ago, according to Deputy Terrance Helm, the sheriff’s
spokesperson.
GILROY – In a distinctly modern scenario, Gilroy residents Dan Rodriguez and Luis Mitre have matched their wives’ rank in the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department.
Both men are now sergeants, a title conferred on their wives two years ago, according to Deputy Terrance Helm, the sheriff’s spokesperson.
It was the two men’s achievement honored at a ceremony Tuesday in San Jose, but it highlights the leaps women have made in law enforcement in recent years – more so given the fact that the sheriff who did the promoting is a woman, Laurie Smith.
Dan Rodriguez is now assigned to court security, Luis Mitre to the West Valley Patrol Division in Saratoga. Rose Mitre and Dalia Rodriguez are both detectives, specializing in homicide and identity theft, respectively.
In the past, Luis Mitre has worked out of the South County Justice Center in San Martin as a detective, K9 deputy and court deputy.
Smith recognized eight other men’s and women’s promotions in 2004, one of whom also lives in South County. Several others have worked out of the South County Substation in San Martin.
Smith has tapped Morgan Hill resident Ernie Smedlund to become one of two commanders in the county, second only in rank to Smith herself. Smedlund had been a captain previously, in charge of court security countywide. Smith promoted Nick Perusina to fill Smedlund’s former position.
Smith has also named Ray Miyabara, once a lieutenant in charge of the South County Substation in San Martin, as a captain in charge of transit patrol. Before the promotion, Lt. Miyabara was filling in as a captain at the department headquarters in San Jose.
Another new captain, Ed Laverone, lives in San Juan Bautista and has previously worked regular patrol and parks patrol in South County. He is now involved in jail administration.
Carlos Doña has also worked in South County before, and Smith reassigned him here when she promoted him to sergeant.
New lieutenants Chris Forrester, Terrence Calderone and Karen Burgess have all worked on patrol and/or cases in South County but have never been assigned here.
