In 1974, Karla Rodriguez was born Karla Martinez to parents Ana Maria Martinez and Carlos Martinez in the City of Hartford, Connecticut. She grew up in a single parent household with her sisters by her side. Karla continued through school and graduated with honors in 1992 from Bulkeley High School where she left the legacy of being a motivator. She was a member of the track team, cheerleading team, yearbook committee and a class official. Karla received an academic scholarship to the University of Connecticut where fitness had already become an interest, but left there to become one of Hartford’s finest, a member of the Hartford Police Department.
Karla has been a member of the Hartford Police Department since 1995 where she was assigned to the Patrol Division within the department and was promoted to detective in 2001, assigned to the Major Crimes Division. She has received several departmental, local and statewide awards for her distinguished service, including being honored by the Connecticut Association of Police with the 2001 Woman Officer of the Year Award. She is a member of the Hartford Police Awards committee and is a certified P.O.S.T.C instructor in nine subject areas who teaches for the Hartford Police Academy, the Connecticut Police Academy, Manchester Community College and other outside agencies.
Karla is a certified group fitness and kickboxing instructor with over sixteen years of experience in helping people find their groove in fitness. She has also been featured in local and national publications for her fitness and work efforts. Karla’s passion started with a work related injury that contributed to 45 pound weight gain. This resulted in an addiction to positive energy associated with the beat of music and exercise. She began to not only teach regular classes but also conduct fitness and motivational workshops/conferences. Her groove was later halted by her pregnancy which resulted in another 50 pound weight gain. Making it all worth it, Juleana was born September 8, 2002. Juleana is now 5 years old and shares in her mother’s appreciation of music, dance and physical fitness. As Karla’s passion continued to rise and the desire to leave her daughter a legacy arose, the concept of Sudor Taino and her inspirational clothing line was born. Despite her many health issues, Karla continues to follow her passions.
Karla holds a B.S. in Business Management and Public Relations from Albertus Magnus College and is currently enrolled in the Public Policy Master’s Degree Program at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Karla Rodriguez is currently assigned to the Intelligence Division which conducts dignitary details, corruption cases and investigations on serious gang and firearm crimes within the City of Hartford. Karla is currently on a promotional list to make the rank of Sergeant and is the President of the Association of Women Police. She is a single mother and resides in the Town of Newington.
In public interviews, Karla thanks God for her many blessings especially, the support of her family, friends, hard core students and those that have helped her along the way. She calls them her “Believers” because they believe in her, they believe in her mission and supplement her passion.
Karla was quoted as saying, Everything I do…police work, giving advice to a fellow female officer, the workshops, the lectures, or even the messages I will put on my merchandise come directly from the inspiration I receive from individual encounters that I have with people on a daily basis. It is about the quest to live and not just to exist.”
Karla's goal is to contribute to the progress of humankind by continuing to touch the lives of everyone around her in a positive way.
