About this ebook
The Ugly Underneath is a stirring and honest firsthand account of the world of crimes against children and one man’s dedication to fighting it. Shedding light on the emotional and psychological toll that investigating the horrible acts that occur just beneath the surface of our communities inflicts, author Carlos Rodriguez takes you through the development of his career in the Washington State Patrol and behind the scenes of several investigative operations to capture child sex offenders during his time as the leader of the Missing and Exploited Children Task Force.
To navigate the daily stress, Rodriguez learned to compartmentalize trauma into mental "boxes”—a coping mechanism he unknowingly developed long before his law enforcement career. And while it allowed him to endure through his work, the act of storing away that suffering exacted its own toll on his personal life. Through anecdotes of resilience, mistakes, and growth, he explores how carrying pain shaped him and what it meant to finally begin unpacking it.
Melding personal stories, true crime narratives, and exposés on the many difficulties that law enforcement officers face, Rodriguez shares his compelling experiences with resolute honesty and lightening moments of humor. This book offers a raw perspective on enduring the unimaginable and learning to live beyond it.
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About the author
Carlos Rodriguez is a former crimes-against-children detective sergeant and FBI Task Force Officer (TFO), retiring from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) in June of 2020. Throughout his career, he led teams focused on complex investigations, with his most meaningful work centered on protecting children from sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation.
Carlos led WSP’s Missing and Exploited Children Task Force (MECTF), which was colocated with the FBI’s South Sound Child Exploitation Task Force. He developed proactive investigative operations targeting those who attempt to sexually exploit children, which have been nationally modeled and replicated in jurisdictions across the county. Carlos is a nationally recognized subject matter expert and continues to present on human trafficking and child exploitation at national and international conferences.
He served as the chief program officer for the International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators (IAHTI), where he helped shape strategy and training initiatives to combat exploitation. He continues to volunteer for IAHTI, by providing training and guidance as needed.
Currently, Carlos is an internal investigator for the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), where he leads investigations involving employee misconduct, student safety, and Title IX violations. He also serves as the point of contact for the district’s human trafficking prevention program.
