“Rewinding the Tape” with WPD’s Detective Gonzalez

Waldron Police Department Detective Horacio Gonzalez will tell you, everyone has a story, you just have to listen. That God gifted spirit led him to his calling.

Gonzalez, born in Mexico to parents Horacio Sr. and Maria, moved to California when he was little more than two weeks old. His parents were both permanent residents of the United States, and hard working agriculture laborers. Gonzalez recalled his childhood: “My parents labored very hard seven days a week, and I saw the hardship. When I was 13, I went to help work in the fields, hoeing cotton, raking almonds and picking grapes. I eventually dropped out of school to go work in the agriculture industry like my parents.”

Gonzalez reflected on the memories, including the good food with co-laborers, with what he described as the best tasting bean tacos. “I remember sometimes we would put the hood of our car up for shade, or lay under the vehicle. I was lucky my dad had a 4×4 and it sat up pretty high. Sometimes if I had five minutes left on break, I would take a nap and use an empty soda can as a pillow.”

Later, his family, including his two siblings, Omar and Veronica, moved to South Texas. The family found it difficult to find work. Extended family, located in Arkansas, saw a newspaper advertisement for employment at Tyson. Gonzalez’ parents, and siblings moved to Waldron, and the 18 year old stayed behind. “My cousin Eddie Morin encouraged me to go back to school and get my GED. There was a school in Edinburg, Texas that provided room and board, the University of Texas-Pan America.”

In 1995, after completing his GED, Gonzalez joined his family in Waldron and began working at Tyson. Gonzalez would eventually move back to California and marry his wife of 24 years, Juanita.

In 2005, church parishioner and famed Bulldog announcer Fritz Morales pulled Gonzalez aside, “he asked me what I thought about law enforcement. I told him I was good. At Tyson we had bathrooms, a microwave and running water. Way more than what we had working in the agriculture industry ( field work).” Gonzalez did offer to serve as a translator for the growing Hispanic community. Morales set up a meeting with then Sheriff, Cody Carpenter. “I remembered to make a good impression, you needed to have a firm handshake and look someone in the eye. I practiced doing that in front of a mirror.”

Although his career wasn’t to be with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Gonzalez would find his path with the City of Waldron Police Department. “A few days after I visited with the Sheriff, I received a call from then Captain David Millard. They were starting a Reserve program, and wanted to know if I would be interested.”

After learning of the qualifications for the program, Gonzalez knew it was not going to be an easy path forward. “I was not a U.S. citizen at that time,” Gonzalez stated. “I was a permanent resident, but I knew the citizenship program was a long and expensive one.” Gonzalez visited with the Priest at his church, St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church. “Father Neil Pezzulo gave me an envelope with $700 inside and told me to go get my citizenship. He said that was his gift to me and my family, to be able to better myself.”

He started his concurrent journey on the path to citizenship and reserve classes at the Waldron Police Department. Gonzalez was concerned about the length of time it would take to become an official U.S. citizen. “What I didn’t know until later was that Chief Millard had written a letter to immigration on my behalf. I will never be able to repay him for that.”

It wasn’t long after that, Gonzalez received a phone call from immigration asking if he was ready to take the naturalization test. “The standard process takes a long time,” added Gonzalez. “Normally there is a ceremony with 100’s of people who are given a little flag, administered an oath, and sworn in as U.S. citizens.” Gonzalez passed the exam, and was immediately sworn in. “It is just amazing how everything fell into place. The education, the training, everything. It was just God.”

Following his stint as a reserve officer, Gonzalez began working on patrol. It wasn’t long until Chief Millard asked if he would be interested in working in narcotics. Gonzalez took a lengthy course at the Springdale Police Department, a program offered through the Criminal Justice Institute. “It was a chance to further better myself. I became a certified narcotics officer and K-9 officer.”

Gonzalez would then be promoted to Detective as he continued his education, as a crime scene technician, and later, as an advanced crime scene technician. “I love the detective and investigation work and I still work narcotics when I can.”

Gonzalez, now 45, utilizes his God given gifts and personal hardships as tools to relate to those he comes into contact with. “I’ve never met a drug addict that likes to be a drug addict,” shared Gonzalez. “I listen to their story and try to relate to them in some way…People just want to be heard and understood and God gave me that ability.”

His offering of dignity and respect has gained the esteem of many, even those whom he’s arrested.

Gonzalez has seen the best and the worst in people, yet he still believes in humanity. Why? Because of his faith. “I pray before I go to a crime scene, and ask for guidance,” Gonzalez added. “God put me here, I have no doubt about it.”

The Gonzalez’ have three daughters, Brenda, Ariana, and Annaly. Brenda, the oldest, holds a BSN in nursing and works in the emergency room. Ariana, 19, is in college and is pursuing a career in teaching. The youngest, Annaly, is 13 and is a student at Waldron Middle School. His wife Juanita serves as an ESL Paraprofessional at the Waldron School District. “We are all in the helping business,” concluded Gonzalez.

He often reflects back, or as he calls it, “rewinding the tape.” The years, most people would deem as difficult, was to him, Divine direction. “It’s been a beautiful life,” Gonzalez shared. “I learned the value of a dollar, morals, and ethics…all I ever wanted to do is to pass that on to my kids, raise them right, die and go to heaven.”