Ron Rodgers

Ron Rodgers was born in North Carolina and though his dad was in the Navy and traveled a lot, Ron spent his summers and virtually all holidays on his grandparents’ farm. His grandfather was a poor white sharecropper who farmed 40 acres and plowed his fields using a mule. Ron enjoyed the summers in spite of the hard work.

A little known fact is that he and his future partner, Lee Roberts lived about 20 minutes apart but didn’t know it. It was in the late 50’s when Ron’s dad was on recruiting duty in Albemarle, NC.

In the early 60’s Ron moved with his family to Long Beach which was his dad’s final duty station prior to retiring. He attended Artesia High School. After graduation he spent one year at Cerritos College. He simply wasn’t dedicated to learning at this time in his life and decided to work instead.

Ron was drafted into the Army and served from late ’66 to mid ’69. He served a tour in Viet Nam from ’67 to ’69.

Ron met an LAPD Sgt. Zein in 1969. Zein had a gunsmith business at a Sandblasting company Ron worked at. After talking to him Ron got a crazy idea. He’d become a cop. Ron’s wife was pregnant and they didn’t have any insurance so Ron thought it would be a good idea.

By the time he got hired at LAPD Ron and his wife were living in Balboa at 301 Alvarado Pl, with his IN LAWS! Now if that wasn’t motivation to do well?.

Ron was in class 5-70 (May 1970). The first day of the academy Ron met Jim Carson and Kent Stoddard.

On day 3 of the academy Ron’s wife went into labor and on day 4 he became a new father.

While he was in the Academy Ron also met Lee Roberts (NBPD) and they became friends. In fact they were friendly rivals, competing for the top spot in the Academy. Lee still says it was because Ron was the shortest guy in the class that the DI’s took pity on him and gave it to him. HA!

Ron worked Harbor Division following graduation and managed to move into a San Pedro apartment and away from the in-laws. This didn’t last long as a second child was soon on the way and a house was their only option.

So they moved to Santa Ana. Ron worked Mid-watch (1900-0300) and went to school days, soon getting his AA in “Police Science.” The 38 mile drive to work got to Ron and he decided to inquire at Newport about a job.

Ron’s only training officer for his first 10 days at Newport was Lee Roberts. Lee wouldn’t let Ron drive for the first few days they worked together. Then he capitulated but soon regretted it. This training was during Easter Week 1973 and they were working beat 14 Day watch when a 211 call came out at the jewelry store at the Newporter Inn on Jamboree. They were the only unit available so of course Lee bought the call. He began to question that decision and both of their sanities when Ron started rolling Code 3 eastbound on the Highway in the westbound lanes from Bayside Dr.

Ron worked Patrol and Detectives before going into Narcotics. He worked with Danny DiSanto and Mike Hietala. He then was assigned to S.E.T. with Lee Roberts. After a year Ron went back to patrol.

In 1979 Ron tested for Sgt and was promoted. He worked graveyard shift for a year and then on to days. In 1982 he went into Personnel and Training and because he scheduled training for the Department he had an opportunity to expand his own knowledge. He attended so many courses he got the nickname “Sgt Gone.”

From 1985 through 1997 Ron worked Patrol, Traffic, and Narcotics (again) as well as serving on the Hostage Negotiation team. In 97 he went into Professional Standards working for Lt. Hyams until April 2000. It was during this time that Ron had a chance to go back to school and got his MBA degree.

Going back to patrol, he worked as a Field Sgt and Asst. W/C until retirement in Jan 02. For his last 8 months on the job Ron had to work days due to vision problems resulting from Retina damage suffered from too many hits to the head. Ron also still owes Mark Hamilton for the baton strike to the throat that fractured his larynx during baton training once.

Ron has spent nearly 26 years working part time at Golden West College as a Training Officer and a semester teacher in the Criminal Justice discipline. He still teaches the Specialized Investigators Basic Course.

In 2000 Ron met Julie and the 2 of them hit it off right away. They were married on Valentine’s Day (he’ll never forget the date) in 2001 and currently live in Carlsbad with their best friend Parker (a Beagle).

Interviewed by Stan Bressler