PARLIER, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The Parlier community gathered at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church Friday to honor Parlier Police Officer Juan Rodriguez. Rodriguez died of a health issue on Nov. 9, leaving behind two teenage sons. He was also a school resource officer at Parlier High School for two years. Loved ones say they will remember him for his kind heart and servant leadership. “In his role as a school resource officer, Officer Rodriguez embodied the very essence of service. He was more than a guardian of safety. He was a beacon of hope and understanding,” Parlier Police Chief David Cerda said. The church was full of friends and family grieving his loss. However, even in their sorrow, they sang, “Glory be to God.”  Cerda remembers Rodriguez as a sacrificial leader, always putting others before himself. “He paid out of his pocket to a victim who was vandalized to repair the damage to that victim's property,” Cerda said. He choked up during Friday’s eulogy, saying Rodriguez was loved and respected by the entire department. He says the loss leaves a void. Following Friday’s service, the department held a formal burial at Smith Mt. Cemetery. They played bagpipes, had a helicopter flyover and released doves. Cerda says Rodriguez’s life may have been cut short by illness, but it was well-lived. He says the officer’s legacy will live on in the lives of those he served. Cerda closed with, “Rest in peace, Officer Rodriguez. Your light will continue to shine brightly in our community, and you will deeply be missed and never be forgotten. Thank you for your service.”