Denise Rodriguez, MA is the Associate Monitor for Impartial Policing. Ms. Rodriguez is a leading expert on collaborative reform, police accountability, civilian oversight of police, and community-based policing. In addition to her work on the Chicago Independent Monitoring Team, she is a federal court-appointed consent decree Chief Deputy Monitor in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Ms. Rodriguez has also worked in local government and 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. Prior to serving with the City of Fort Worth, Ms. Rodriguez spent over 11 years leading and supporting reform assessments and monitoring of several police agencies across the country including Spokane, Washington; Fayetteville, North Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to her reform work, Ms. Rodriguez directed a team of 25 staff, managed a budget of over $10 million, and oversaw the provision of technical assistance to over 300 police agencies on the implementation of body-worn cameras. Her work with police agencies has delved into issues related to racial bias, community engagement, use of force, violence reduction, officer safety and wellness, critical incident reviews, and 21st Century Policing.

Ms. Rodriguez holds a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from Marymount University, Arlington, VA and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX.

As the Associate Monitor for Impartial Policing, Ms. Rodriguez will work closely with the Community Engagement Team.