By DAVID SWEARINGEN
TheFlashToday.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: Residents of Dublin, and the rest of Erath County, are very fortunate to have many men and women who make living here safe, many of whom are volunteers. They are Hometown Heroes! These people keep us safe and we owe them our thanks and our respect. THANK YOU!
DUBLIN (October 7, 2016) – This week the THE FLASH would like to honor Corporal Bob Gonzales as this week’s hometown hero. SRO (School Resources Officer) Gonzales is one of six children in his family and he was born in Lubbock.
His father traveled a lot from job to job so as a young man, Gonzales’ family moved a lot. He said he and his family often had to live in the ghetto-type areas. They spent time living in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles as well as Waco. Gonzales can speak four different languages – English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese – that he said he learned from being on the streets in the various ghettos where he grew up. After living all over, Gonzales graduated from Stephenville High School in 1976.
“I was raised in the ghettos, but just because you come from ghettos doesn’t mean you are going to become a criminal,” Corporal Gonzales said. “You make your own choices. I made my choices and those choices are why I am where I am at now.”
In the late 80’s and early 90’s, Gonzales spent four years working as a Dublin paramedic and with the Dublin Police Department. In 1993, he focused on his law enforcement career, spending his law enforcement time with the Erath County Sheriff’s Department and Dublin Police Department. He has worked for two sheriffs – Sheriff David Coffee and Sheriff Tommy Bryant. His father was a deputy sheriff under Sheriff Jack Perry. Gonzales also has a brother who was a policeman in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, for 10 years.
In 1996, Bob and Laura Gonzales were married. They have six children and 13 grandchildren. Gonzales is currently one of two School Resource Officers for the Dublin Police Department. The other SRO is Sgt. Benny Noel. Gonzales works with the Elementary and Middle School students while Sgt. Noel works with the Jr. High and High School students on the Secondary campus.
Corporal Gonzales said he typically works an eight-hour day but, of course, he is always on call for the department or any student who may need him.
His favorite part about his job is talking and working with the students and teachers. He said one of his most memorable times in law enforcement was when he was one of the investigators at the Chris Kyle shooting.
In his spare time, Gonzales enjoys welding and working on the farm. He has been a Dallas Cowboys fan since he was 5 years old. He and his wife attend the Edna Hill Baptist Church.
The Dublin citizens and DISD students are lucky to have such a man as Corporal Gonzales helping to keep their town safe and being a great role model for the kids he comes in contact with every day.
Be the first to comment