Eddie Rodriguez lives!

Rumors of officer's demise greatly exaggerated

WPD captain likely departing for a new job, but not the great beyond

By MATT FARLEY

of the register-pajaronian

While an obituary bearing his photograph appeared Thursday in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Watsonville Police Department Capt. Edmundo Rodriguez is not dead, Capt. Kim Austin said Thursday.

"It was certainly news to him," Austin said of Rodriguez, who is on leave. "(Capt. Manny Solano) was in touch with him today and he seemed fine."

Austin said Solano contacted Rodriguez and then the newspaper as soon as he noticed the article, which displays Edmundo Rodriguez's picture alongside an obituary for Watsonville resident Edward M. Rodriguez, who died Nov. 29 at the age of 83.

"It was just a mistake, based on how similar their names are," Austin said. "We've been getting e-mails from other agencies checking to make sure that everything's OK."

Police Chief Terry Medina said he had fielded several phone calls, e-mails and voice mails regarding the obituary.

"The calls started pretty early this morning," he said. "I even got a call from the mortuary. They wanted to make sure I understood it was not their mistake."

Still, Medina shrugged the gaff off, noting that he was more concerned for the family of the real Edward M. Rodriguez.

Once it was confirmed that the photo was run in error, the jokes started. Officers and other WPD staff could be heard offering laughing condolences in the department hallways.

"It was sort of funny because he was the public information officer," one officer said. "He had more contact with the media than anybody."

Rodriguez recently became the focus of added coverage after WPD announced Nov. 29 that he is expected to leave Watsonville this month to take over as chief of the Marina Police Department.

Sentinel staffers declined to comment on the matter other than to confirm that the obituary was an error and that a correction was forthcoming.

Meanwhile, Austin said that the department was ready to forget the incident and move on.

"Basically, we're ready to let this one die," she said with a grin.