Remembering Deputy Marcial “Rod” Rodriguez

Citrus County feels an ache this week that words can’t fully express. For students, staff, and parents, Deputy Rod’s presence was more than that of an officer; he was a protector, a mentor, and a friend.

As both a father and husband to a former CRHS student, and teacher, I knew firsthand that my family was safe under his watch. Whenever I was on campus, there were few times I didn’t stop by his office to share a quick joke or a thought. But when the moment called for it, Deputy Rod was someone we could count on without hesitation.

Our School Resource Officers are not just law enforcement; they are a vital part of school culture. They protect, guide, and sometimes give the tough love that shapes lives. Deputy Rod embodied all of this and more.

As we grieve, we pray for his wife, Carol, his sons, Isaiah and Josiah, and his law enforcement and school families.

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” — Psalm 82:3–4 (NIV)

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