Denise Rodriguez is a leading expert on collaborative reform, police accountability, civilian oversight of police, and community-based policing. She currently serves as the Chief Deputy Police Monitor on the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States Department of Justice Consent Decree. In this role, she provides direction to the six federal monitors on the case, assists with report writing, and directly supports the Chief Monitor in monitoring compliance with the Agreement and maintaining communication with the parties involved in the case. Prior to her current role, Ms. Rodriguez served as Deputy Monitor for the City of Fort Worth’s Office of the Police Monitor, which provides oversight over the Fort Worth Police Department. As Deputy Police Monitor, Ms. Rodriguez played an integral role in the Office’s efforts in conducting independent reviews and monitoring of citizen complaints, use of force incidents, and police department policies, practices, and procedures. In addition to serving with the City of Fort Worth, Ms. Rodriguez spent over 11 years with CNA, a non-profit organization dedicated to the safety and security of the nation. While at CNA, she led and supported reform assessments and monitoring of several police agencies across the country including Spokane, Washington; Fayetteville, North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, and Las Vegas, Nevada. She has also worked closely with police agencies on issues related to body-worn cameras, violence reduction, officer safety and wellness, critical incident reviews, and 21st Century Policing.

 

In her current capacity as Senior Program Manager for Polis, she serves as a police reform subject matter expert on the Use of Force Review of the Washington County, OR Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).