Padres Honor Probation Chief as Latino Leader

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Probation Chief Adolfo Gonzales accepts his Communidad Award from Tom Seidler, Padres senior vice-president of community & military affairs, at the Aug. 23 game. Photo courtesy of San Diego Padres.

Probation Chief Adolfo Gonzales accepts his Communidad Award from Tom Seidler, Padres senior vice-president of community & military affairs, at the Aug. 23 game. Photo courtesy of San Diego Padres.

San Diego County Probation Chief Adolfo Gonzales hit a home run with a San Diego Padres Comunidad Award, receiving recognition under the award’s “Serve” category at the Aug. 23 evening game.

Gonzales, the first Latino to serve as Chief Probation Officer for San Diego County, accepted the award on the ballfield. The Hispanic Heritage Comunidad Awards were established to recognize and pay tribute to individuals or organizations whose work makes a positive impact on members of San Diego’s Hispanic community.

“With nearly four decades of law enforcement experience, Gonzales is one the most respected and sought-out leaders in the County for his work and dedication towards making San Diego County one of the safest places in the country,” Eloisa Orozco wrote in her nomination of Chief Gonzales. Orozco is an Area Communications Manager for Waste Management of Southern California.

She noted that Gonzales’ priorities include a heavy focus on reducing recidivism and bolstering partnerships with law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations and other County departments such as the Health and Human Services Agency.

Orozco said she has known Gonzales since his years with the National City Police Department and felt he has a long-standing career of community service and is deeply committed to improving the lives of Latinos and all community members alike. He accomplishes this by continuing to serve as a volunteer for many organizations such as the Jackie Robinson YMCA and Reach One Teach One, a nonprofit with a mission to reduce violence, promote unity, and improve the quality of life in the communities.

Gonzales, who holds a master’s degree in education from San Diego State University and a doctorate of education in leadership science from the University of San Diego, is also known as an advocate for higher education and takes every opportunity to encourage Latino youth to pursue their studies.