SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, Calif. — As a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy, you could say Rodney Gutierrez isn’t very good at his job, after all, he hasn’t arrested anyone in the last two years. 

“My approach is nothing special; it’s basic compassion, respect, acknowledgment and persistence,” said Gutierrez.

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For three decades he has worked for the L.A. County Sheriff. Then in July of 2017 he got reassigned to the sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Services Team, a group of just 14 officers whose goal is to look out for the homeless and help them get services.

He works mostly out of the San Gabriel Valley.

“One of the things I saw when I first came to the team is the team would go into an encampment, guns drawn, tactical gear, outer vest on, almost like we’re serving a search warrant… and two minutes later trying to turn it over to our outreach providers. Hey by the way, OK everybody is cool, no weapons, now do you want services?” said Gutierrez.

That’s when his arrest numbers started going down.

“So, the first thing I did is I softened my approach, no outer green vest, guns not drawn… hey homeless team, we’re here to help you, keep your hand where I can see them,” said Gutierrez.

Then Deputy Gutierrez started learning their names, then their stories.

“We’re talking about Miss Gloria, her nickname is 'Smiley' because she always has a smile, always positive, she’s had her section 8 voucher in hand, she’s gotten two extensions and still looking for a place in the San Gabriel Valley or L.A. basin. She previously was a certified nursing assistant,” said Gutierrez.

He started calling them his unsheltered friends. He began carrying a printer in his car to help them with information and documents. He created a logo, gave everyone on the team pins, made a decal for his car, and hands out pens with his phone number on them, all paid for out of his own pocket.

Every Thursday, he and his partner pick up coffee donated by Starbucks and head to a homeless services event, started by Deputy Gutierrez two years ago.

In a town where the homeless are often overlooked and ignored Gutierrez has embraced them.

And the HOST members often bring back success stories to inspire others, stories like Joe's, who was homeless for seven years. Now, Joe has a job and a home. 

“When we were hungry they fed us, when we were cold, they brought us blankets. . . he helped me out so much, I don’t know how I could ever repay him” said Joe.

According to Deputy Gutierrez, when he started two years ago, about 80 percent of the unhoused people in the area rejected services. Now about three quarters of the homeless are accepting the help they desperately need. 

“We keep trying, we keep trying, we’re not gonna give up,” said Gutierrez.

It takes persistence, patience, commitment, but above all love. 

It’s not that Deputy Gutierrez isn’t good at arresting people, it’s that he’s better at loving them.