John Gonzales
I would like to share a story about Lt. O?Rourke. I worked for him in the S.O. Transportation Unit back in the early 1990?s. I was pretty new to the Office and did not have the ability to take time off. My Mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I became her caregiver through the last part of her life. My stress level was through the roof at home, and being in a new job I was burning the candle at both ends so to speak. My new boss, at that time was Sgt. O?Rourke, I was told by fellow deputies he was pretty tough and that I had better do a good job because he would know if you didn?t. Sgt. O?Rourke learned what I was going through and could not have been nicer or more supportive. I missed work sometimes, or I was running late when things got bad, and he never said a thing other then what can I do for you, or how can I help. I tried to say sorry for missing work, but he just told me ?we are the Sheriff?s Office; we take care of our own.? Fast forward over 27 years, I have been a Sergeant for 14 years and have had many Deputies come to me with their life changing problems over the years. When they are ?burning the candle at both ends? and are at their wits end, I tell them about a sergeant I once had, Tom O?Rourke. ?We are the Sheriff?s Office; we take care of our own.? I have never forgotten what Sgt. O?Rourke did for me, and I am still paying forward to this day. Rest in Peace Tom. Thank you for helping me so many years ago. Sgt. John P. Gonzales