Cleveland Police Officer Jonathan Rodriguez assigned to SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) was born in Buffalo, New York and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Throughout his childhood, he enjoyed outdoor activities, including riding bikes, playing basketball, fishing, camping and gardening. He also enjoyed going to the movies. Although Rodriguez and his wife, Zuleika, met while in high school, the pair did not begin their relationship until after they graduated. They have been together for 12 years and brought two beautiful children into the world.
In March of 2014, Rodriguez joined the Cleveland Police Department and served as a Field Training Officer before becoming a member of the SWAT Team. Additionally, in 2015, he became a pistol expert. Rodriguez’s main goal was to climb the ranks and become a positive example for others. He appreciated the ability to help others during their most vulnerable times and go home each day with the knowledge that he was able to make a difference in his community.
On June 5, 2020, Rodriguez and his team were responding to a call when the vehicle they were traveling in was struck by a drunk driver. He sustained a spinal cord injury, leaving him paralyzed. His recovery has been both physically and mentally challenging and he is working towards bettering his health each day.
Rodriguez currently resides in Ohio with his family and enjoys reading, playing chess, watching movies, and spending quality time with his children. He is grateful to Tunnel to Towers for providing the necessary accessibility tools to live more independently in his home and have a better quality of life. In the future, Rodriguez is excited to be able to spend more time outside, attend his children’s school activities and witness their accomplishments. Finally, Cleveland Police Officer Jonathan Rodriguez would like others to know that he was given a purpose from God and he wants to be an example that although life can be hard, nothing is impossible.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has provided Cleveland Police Officer Jonathan Rodriguez with a mortgage-free smart home through the Smart Home Program, located in the Tunnel to Towers Let Us Do Good Village.