The Yale Police Department welcomes new officer Karl Rodriguez-Perez

The Yale Police Department (YPD) recently added three new officers to their force: Gregg Curran, Angelo DeLieto, and Karl Rodriguez-Perez. All three are experienced officers who come to us from other area police departments. Please join us in welcoming them to Yale.

We caught up with Officer Karl Rodriguez-Perez to discuss his first weeks getting to know the campus, community policing, and the local food scene.

Officer Karl Rodriguez-Perez grew up in Milford, Connecticut, attended Notre Dame Fairfield High School, and has a B.S. in criminal justice from the University of New Haven. Shortly after graduating from college, Karl was accepted into the Connecticut Police Academy. After graduating, he worked as a Woodbridge Police Officer for four years before being hired by the Yale Police Department in February.

What made you decide to come to Yale?

I attended the police academy with someone who currently works at the YPD. We stayed in touch, and he often talked about his positive experience working with the Yale and local communities and described all the available resources Yale provides. Hearing his experience, I realized Yale was doing community policing and outreach on a much bigger scale than I was used to, which piqued my interest. I felt here I’d be more than a police officer; I’d be part of a diverse community and saw it as a great opportunity.

Talk a bit about your experience so far.

I’ve been paired up with a field training officer who is onboarding me to the campus, buildings, streets, and resources. I’m patrolling by car and on foot and still getting acclimated to all the buildings and the city grid. The town of Woodbridge has a main road, is somewhat rural, and has six traffic lights. The Yale campus and the City of New Haven are more extensive and busier. There are many one-way streets (Woodbridge had one!). There is more car and bicycle traffic and tons of pedestrians walking about—a lot of activity in general. I’m taking it all in.

I get out of the car and walk around and enjoy talking to the people in the community. The campus architecture and some of the buildings are so amazing; I feel I’ll never get tired of looking at them. Also, I’m immersing myself in the local food scene—there is a lot.

Tell us a few fun facts about yourself.

Growing up, I loved to play baseball, and now when I’m not working, I play in a softball league. My wife and I love visiting the quaint village of Mystic, Connecticut, for the food, shops, and local history. I’m fluent in English and Spanish.

Officer Karl Rodiguez-Perez