Location: Exeter Veterans Memorial Building

Incident Date: 3/3/18

City: Exeter

Posted by: Media Relations

Deputy Rufino Venegas honored as Officer of the Year

On Saturday, March 3, 2018, Dep. Rufino was named Officer of the Year during the Knights of Columbus Council 9068 Community Services Recognition Awards Dinner at the Exeter Veterans Memorial Building. He was one of several first responders to be recognized from agencies in Tulare County.

Dep. Venegas was presented with his award by Lt. Torres, who served as Station Commander at the Visalia Substation where Dep. Venegas is assigned. 

Dep. Venegas said being nominated for the award was a surprise. 

“It was very unexpected,” he said. “I am humbled.”

Dep. Rufino Venegas was born in Mexico and moved to the States at the age of 2. He was raised in the community of Ivanhoe along with his four brothers. 

He was a 3-sport athlete in high school (football, soccer & track) and graduated from Golden West High School in 2000. 

His love of sports and working with youth landed him a job with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tulare County. Dep. Venegas helped launch the Ivanhoe Boys & Girls Club in 2006 and eventually became the Director of the Visalia Boys & Girls Club. While working at the Boys & Girls Club, he coached multiple youth sports teams and helped the youth in the community of Ivanhoe. 

Dep. Venegas was hired as a Deputy Sheriff at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2015 and was assigned to Headquarters Patrol. 

He became a Field Training Officer in July of 2017 and was later assigned to the Community Based Officer position in Ivanhoe a few months later. 

Since he was a teen, Dep. Venegas said he has wanted to serve the community where he grew up.

“I can relate to the youth in the community because I grew up in the same environment,” he said. “I hope to further my career at the Sheriff’s Office and look forward to what is in store working for this great Department.”