On a tense evening in late 2007, Lieutenant Eddie Rodriguez walked into a scene that would test his ability to connect with his community.
In Hialeah, a young lady in her early twenties, overwhelmed and desperate, was struggling to communicate. Trembling, she held a kitchen knife to her neck and threatened to take her own life.
“This call pushed my abilities in the most challenging yet fulfilling way,” said Rodriguez, who would, in a way, save her life that night.
Rodriguez, 47, has served over 18 years with the Hialeah Police Department as the executive assistant to the chief of police and public information officer. He’s delivered devastating news to families in their most vulnerable moments, addressed the media after public tragedies, and dealt with the emotional toll that comes with being a law enforcement leader.
He’s also waged war against stage 4 cancer. And so far, he is winning.
Hialeah is known for being a rough and tumble city. In this world, Rodriguez stands out for both his humanity and his perseverance in the face of adversity.
“His positive spirit, fondness and affection has been well- established within the community, and it has shown,” said his wife, Diana Correa-Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was born in Passaic, New Jersey on March 8, 1977.
“As a kid, I was good and I never got into any trouble,” said Rodriguez. “I always felt like I was very level-headed and I always thought things through.”
Rodriguez’s childhood was shaped by his grandfather Rosendo Lopez, who fled Cuba many years ago.
“My role model was my grandfather, ” said Rodriguez, “I wanted to be exactly like him because he always put his family first.”
Lopez came to the United States from Cuba with almost nothing, he worked tirelessly to purchase a three-story home for his family. His aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents all grew up together in that home, which was a reflection of their respect for one another.
“My entire family is where we are today because of my grandfather,” said Rodriguez. “My upbringing has led me to become the person I am today.”
Rodriguez began his career as a counselor for at-risk children, focusing on helping kids with mental health challenges. “I wanted to make a difference early on, to help people through tough times,” he recalled.
Early in 2006, Rodriguez walked into the police department to talk about community service opportunities such as washing police cars for the children he was counseling. He encountered an old friend from high school who suggested that he should apply to become a police officer.
“I thought to myself that I could really see myself doing this, and I think it’s time for a change in my career,” said Rodriguez. “So I decided to do it.”
Soon, he was selected to attend the academy and in October 2006, he joined the Hialeah Police Department as a patrol officer, He transitioned to Public Information Officer in 2007.
“I always say that I did not choose to be a cop,” said Rodriguez. “the profession chose me.”
One of the most significant moments of Rodriguez’s career came that night in 2007 when he was called to the scene of a potential suicide. The young lady barricaded herself in her home in Hialeah with a kitchen knife to her neck, overwhelmed and struggling to communicate her feelings. Though officers tried to engage her, it became clear that no one understood her distress.
Negotiators couldn’t get through, but then an officer dropped a large metal bar on the floor.
“It was the scariest and loudest sound I have ever heard,” said Rodriguez. “When the bar dropped I noticed that the young lady did not get startled, which made me realize that she was actually deaf.”
So he calmly approached her and alleviated her fears by utilizing sign language that he learned in the police academy.
Then she let go of the knife.
“When she dropped the knife, she began to cry and she hugged me,” said Rodriguez. “ It seemed like she finally felt relieved that someone understood her, which allowed her to survive.”
As a police officer, Rodriguez has delivered the the news to the public of shootings, murders and suicides. In 2013, he married Diana Correa and they built a happy and stable life. But in July 2022, everything changed. Correa rushed him to the hospital due to severe abdominal pain.
He thought it was heartburn. Then, doctors informed him it was stage 4 large B-cell lymphoma.
This diagnosis was unexpected and astonishing when he learned he has a rare TP53 DNA gene mutation, making him resistant to treatment.
“I believed the doctors were wrong,” said Rodriguez. “I was in disbelief, shock, and in denial.”
He faced a daunting journey, beginning with a five-inch tumor on the outside of his stomach. Rodriguez spent from July to December 2022 undergoing extensive chemotherapy, including 96 hour sessions every two weeks.
The toll on his body was immense. He experienced severe fatigue and nausea. Diana, and the Hialeah communityrallied to raise nearly $45,000 through a GoFundMe site to help cover his medical costs.
“It was a terrifying time for us to go through this process,” said Diana. “I felt helpless watching him go through so much pain, but we never lost hope and our faith.”
During chemotherapy, Rodriguez’s department surprised him one day at the hospital.
He looked out the window to see hundreds of police cars and a crowd of people serenading him.
“Eddie has made such a positive impact on the people around him, so it’s nice to see all these people come together for him in a special way,” said longtime friend Cynthia Morata.
After spending nearly a year resting and recovering from his battle with cancer, life returned to normal. He went back to work at the department. One incident just this past August, though, reminded him of the fragility of life. Rodriguez faced the grim task of reporting on a tragic murder-suicide in Hialeah in August 2024.
“Two people were found dead inside a Hialeah apartment in an apparent murder-suicide,” he stated during the press, his voice heavy with the weight of the news.
The incident unfolded at 605 W 68th St. after a deceased woman’s sister, worried about her sibling’s absence, called the police.
“She knocked on the door and didn’t get an answer, but was able to hear a child inside. That’s when she called the police,”explained Rodriguez, visibly shaken by the events.
Upon arrival, officers had to force their way into the apartment, where they found a man and a woman dead, while a 3-year-old boy was unharmed.
“It was a devastating tragedy to witness,” added Rodriguez, noting that the child was unharmed. “Every incident like this weighs heavily on me..”
But Rodriguez believes he has more to do in his community.
The journey had been grueling, but Rodriguez emerged stronger, a testament to his determination and the unwavering support of his family, colleagues and community.
“Putting on my uniform again felt like a victory, it was a happy moment for me,” he said. “I believe my cancer was a blessing to get me closer to God.”
