Major Sariabeth Rodríguez is the executive in charge of the Children and Adolescents Service of the National Police (PN). She was born in the province of Veraguas, she has been married for 27 years, a 25-year-old son and a 15-year-old daughter.
Since she was little she practiced different sports, among them gymnastics and judo. With the latter she represented Panama in several countries and won a medal in the Central American and Bolivarian Games and more.
Her first job was as a personal defense instructor for the PN. In 2005, she traveled to Venezuela to study security and public order, and she returned to Panama with the rank of second lieutenant, which opened the doors for her to be in charge of the Children and Adolescents Service.
The first steps in this service were given in the San Miguelito police zone. Then she was in Don Bosco, she passed through San Francisco, the eastern area, until this year (2022) she became the executive in charge.
She has a master’s degree in senior management in human resources, another in higher education and a degree in self-defense.
Rodríguez received La Estrella de Panamá to talk about how he has achieved the balance between practicing his profession and dedicating himself to his family. She spoke of the challenges that she has had to face, but above all she was proud to belong to the National Police.
There are many women who dedicate themselves to professions that have been mostly carried out by men, but in your case, why did you decide to be a police officer?
When I was a child I saw my godfather work as a policeman, when he was the Defense Force. Also, I practiced judo in the barracks and saw the children, who were taught closed order and I liked that. Also seeing the people from the Defense Force pass in front of my house, the men ran past and sang, I feel that this was my inspiration. One day I decided to join the Police and graduated as an agent.
How do you get to the Department of Childhood and Adolescence?
I arrived at the San Miguelito police zone and was the head of several sections, but one day, my commissioner told me ‘I’m going to give you a mission, take care of Children and Adolescents’, that was in 2007, just after graduating, they gave me the opportunity to belong to this service in which I am currently 15 years old.
What difficulties does Panama face in the prevention of mistreatment, abuse and different dangers that harm children and adolescents?
There are different things that children and adolescents are exposed to. The most important thing is the family nucleus, and one of the problems that we see today, as policemen of Childhood Adolescence, is that there is a lack of love from parents towards their children.
The Children and Adolescents service works from prevention, what do these programs consist of?
We are in different places, in schools, in communities. We deal with cases of abuse, abandonment, theft, many things, but we, as childhood police officers, are preventive. Throughout the country we are in 107 schools with the ‘Dare’ program, which helps adolescents to say ‘no to drugs’. We have Gray who guides them not to enter the gangs. Different programs that focus on children to make good decisions.
When that child does not have a strong pillar at home, we are that constant drop that does not get tired and is there every day. If we continue to guide them we will have good young people, but it also depends on us as parents.
What do you think should be improved in terms of prevention programs so that they effectively reach all vulnerable communities?
“Parents must guide our children; many times they want the teacher to do it, that other people do it, and no, it is our responsibility as parents”.
SARIABETH RODRIGUEZ
PN CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE EXECUTIVE
Our programs have been very effective; Currently we have many professionals who remember that one day they were part of our programs. But I feel that we also have to work together with the foundations that are in charge of children and adolescents. The government can also contribute more and we as the National Police are working so that these things, such as gang activity, do not occur.
How do you think values should be promoted to avoid cases of family disintegration, whether due to violence, sexual abuse, or other factors?
We all have to get involved, do more campaigns; parents must guide our children every day, many times they want the teacher to do it, other people to do it and no, it is our responsibility as parents.
Digital media can also promote more values to make people aware. It is very important, and it should be done because if the same thing is repeated to a child every day, he will learn it. If the pillars of the family are strong, we will have strong children.
Regarding the role of women in national security, what differentiates them from men?
As policewomen we are very valuable. We do the same as men, but we always have to know that we are feminine and we have a space. The woman must be a wife, a friend, and although we do the same as them, we know that we are women, a little more delicate. We have played roles, today there are very professional women who hold high positions.
What do you think are the qualities that helped you get where you are?
My studies, the effort, the support of my family and a lot of sacrifice, because apart from the fact that we have to comply as police officers, we also have to comply in our homes. We have to educate our children with principles and values. I feel that my success would not have been possible without the support of my family.
What has been the most difficult challenge you have had to face?
A year ago I was in a hospital because he wanted to give me a stroke, I got over it and here I am standing. I have always said that I am a strong woman and a believer in God, because I feel that without God we are nothing, without family we are nothing, and these are challenges that we have to overcome.
How do you detach yourself emotionally from the cases you handle?
There are cases that mark you. There is always a case behind a juvenile police officer, but you have to leave them at work, not mix them with the family, you have to spend time at home. Sometimes one gets fully into work because he wants everything to go well, however, it is important to know how to disconnect.
Of those cases that have marked you, which one do you remember?
The case of a child, who today is a professional, marked me a lot, and he always thanks me for helping him. He came from the United States, he arrived at the airport and he didn’t have his mother, we had to take him to the barracks. He went through a difficult process, but we managed to get him to go with his grandmother, and now, years later, he is in his country. It was a very nice story, I feel happy because he is a professional, sometimes he writes to me and feels grateful for what the National Police did.
To women who are afraid to dare to do different things, what do you advise?
That there is no impossible challenge, everything happens, take advantage of the opportunities when they are presented to you and do not let them pass you by. God gave me the opportunity to be a police officer and I can proudly say that no challenge is impossible. Women are determined, forward, strong, and there is no barrier that we cannot face. Never be afraid, and always ask God for direction.
