Walden Sergeant Robert Montanaro, during the village’s January 21 meeting, proudly announced that the police department received two new full-time officers to its lineup: Katherine Rodriguez and Victor Medina, both of whom bring extensive backgrounds and enthusiasm to the department.

Rodriguez is a Town of Montgomery resident who worked in the New York City Police Department for five years, particularly within the domestic violence unit. She is a proud alumnus of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, earning an associates degree in criminal justice. She is also very close with her daughter and husband, who have both been supportive of her new opportunity at the Walden PD. Montanaro described Rodriguez as a “dedicated, hardworking, and professional” officer who is excited about serving the village with “experience compassion, and dedication.”

Medina is a Town of Monroe resident and 10-year veteran of the New York State Police Department. He holds several certificates and has experience working in the Joint Terrorism Task Force. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports and spending time with his family. Montanaro described Medina as displaying “a strong work ethic and commitment to his job in this profession” who looks forward to serving the community and pursuing this position “at the highest level he possibly can.”

Montanaro added that both officers are fluent in Spanish, an invaluable skill that would help mitigate language gaps between the Walden PD and residents or officers who predominantly speak Spanish.

“Katherine is a Spanish-speaking officer, effectively bridging the gap between Spanish-speaking residents and our police department. This is crucial to make those individuals heard and make sure that their grievances and concerns in the community are met,” Montanaro said. “Victor is also Spanish-speaking, giving us a broader department to be able to communicate with our Spanish-speaking officers. Lots of times when we come into contact with people, there’s a communication gap. As we gain these resources, it’s extremely helpful to our department, but more important to our community.”