ROBERT ELLIS RODRIGUEZ
Richmond Hill
Summary
Strategic law enforcement executive with over 30 years of leadership in public safety and organizational management. Led large-scale operations, developed initiatives, and strengthened community partnerships. Specialized in policy development and organizational accountability. FBI National Academy graduate with a Ph.D. in Public Policy & Administration focusing on police misconduct and governance.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Deputy Chief of Police
Savannah-Chatham BOE Police Department
01.2019 - Current
- Provide executive leadership for a multi-division police department serving 40,000+ students and staff across a large public school system
- Develop and implement strategic plans, policies, and safety initiatives to mitigate risk and enhance operational effectiveness
- Led threat assessment initiatives and implemented security enhancements and target hardening efforts to improve safety
- Oversaw daily operations, personnel management, and strategic deployment of sworn and civilian staff to optimize resource use
- Managed departmental budget and resource allocation to ensure effective operation and asset utilization
Chief of Police
Cordele Police Department
01.2016 - 12.2018
- Provided executive command of sworn and civilian personnel, overseeing daily operations and law enforcement service delivery; established community-oriented policing philosophy, developed Citizen's Advisory Committee, and enhanced relationships with public, private, and business organizations for collaborative problem solving.
- Led development and drafting of department's multi-million-dollar annual budget, researching trends and forecasting to ensure appropriate resource allocation for operational divisions while managing personnel and multi-million-dollar assets and equipment.
- Led the reorganization of the department's infrastructure, creating an internal structure that improved funding and transparency of personnel and resource management.
- Drafted departmental policies and procedures to achieve CALEA and GACP certification standards, ensuring compliance and operational excellence.
Deputy Chief of Police & Accreditation/Certification Manager
Moultrie Police Department
01.2010 - 12.2016
- Managed day-to-day operations of police department; developed strategic plans, policies, and procedures ensuring efficient operations across all divisions. Reviewed and approved operational plans for special events and crime enforcement projects. Established and maintained relationships with public, private, and business organizations to implement community-oriented policing objectives and resolve issues.
- Develops initial draft of department's budget. Consults throughout budget process to ensure appropriate allocation of resources for operational divisions. Manages 90% of the department's personnel, assets, and equipment. Reduced training budget by 90% by utilizing online training for standardized courses.
- Reviewed and approved performance appraisals for subordinate supervisors and employees.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Public Policy & Administration
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota11-2020
FBI National Academy -
FBI Academy
Quantico, Virginia09-2018
Master of Public Safety Administration -
Command College, Columbus State University
Columbus, Georgia12-2016
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Wilmington University
New Castle, Delaware08-2014
Associate of Science - Law Enforcement
Thomas University
Thomasville, Georgia12-2012
Skills
- Emergency management
- Risk management
- Strategic planning
- Budget oversight
- Policy Compliance
- Leadership operations
- Organizational change
- Training development
- Community Engagement
- Conflict resolution
Accomplishments
- Phi Kappa Phi, Honor Society, 2016, Columbus State University
- Delta Epsilon Rho, Honor Society, 2014, Wilmington University
Publications
- How Acts of Mistrust and Peacocking Weaken Law Enforcement Agencies and the Culture, Rodriguez, R., 2026, Law Officer, https://www.lawofficer.com/leadership-blind-spots/
- The Power of State Certification, Rodriguez, R., 2021, The Georgia Police Chief, Spring 2021, 48-49
- The Impact of Agency Accreditation or Certification on Police Misconduct, Rodriguez, R., 2020, Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies, 9635, 1-79
- Police Misconduct: Is it Simply Right Versus Wrong?, Rodriguez, R., 2018, Law Enforcement Executive Forum, 18, 1, 53-61
References
- Dr. Jason Armstrong, Professor of Criminal Justice Studies, Albany State University, 229.854.0523, jason.armstrong@asurams.edu
- Mr. Darrin Abner, Professor of Criminal Justice Studies, Ashford University, 229.809.6168, darrin.abner@faculty.ashford.edu
- Chief Antonio Fletcher, Chief of Police, Fort Valley State University Police Department, Fort Valley, Georgia, 478.235.2843, antonio.fletcher@fvsu.edu
- Ms. Angie Smith, LPC, Harmony Community Counseling, Americus, Georgia, 31709, 229.815.0352, harmonycommunitycounseling@gmail.com
Hobbies and Interests
- Leadership and Accountability in Law Enforcement
- Police Misconduct and the Factors of its Causation
- Leadership in Government
Volunteer Leadership And Professional Affiliations
- Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP), Member
- FBI National Academy Association (FBINAA), Member
- Georgia FBI National Academy Association (GA FBINAA), Member
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Member of the Education & Training Committee (Former)
- Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Member and Former Assistant State Officer
- Police Executive Resource Form (PERF), Member (Former)
- National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Member (Former)
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Member (Former)
- Phi Kappa Phi National Academic Honor Society, Member
- Troop 333 Boy Scouts of America, Assistant Scoutmaster
Presentations
- Threat Assessments - An Examination into Their Effectiveness, 2025, 2025 Fall School Facilities and Congress, Orlando, Florida
- Safety and Security for School Administrators, 2024, Ignite Summer Leadership Conference 2024, Savannah, Georgia
- Law Enforcement Youth Advisory Councils and School Safety, 2023, Southeast Conference on School Climate Summer Conference 2023, Savannah, Georgia
- Training: Where are we? Where do we want to be? How do we get there?, 2021, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Summer Conference 2021, Savannah, Georgia
- The Pitfalls of Social Media, 2013, Thomas University, Thomasville, Georgia
Certification
- • POST Executive, Management, and Supervisory Certifications
• CALEA Accreditation Manager
• GA Certification Manager & Assessor
• Crisis Intervention Instructor
• Over 3,000 hours of advanced law enforcement training
Timeline
Deputy Chief of Police
Savannah-Chatham BOE Police Department
01.2019 - Current
Chief of Police
Cordele Police Department
01.2016 - 12.2018
Deputy Chief of Police & Accreditation/Certification Manager
Moultrie Police Department
01.2010 - 12.2016
Doctor of Philosophy - Public Policy & Administration
Walden University
FBI National Academy -
FBI Academy
Master of Public Safety Administration -
Command College, Columbus State University
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
Wilmington University
Associate of Science - Law Enforcement
Thomas University