Emporia ? Former police chief Robert Rodriguez died Tuesday from complications of pneumonia. He was 56.

Rodriguez, a lifetime resident of Emporia, was the city’s police chief for 10 years. He joined the department in 1970 and was named chief in April 1993 after seven months as interim chief.

Rodriguez added a bike patrol to the department, instituted a program to purchase protective vests for officers and bought automatic weapons for response-team officers.

Rodriguez, a Vietnam veteran, retired in December 2000.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emporia.

Rodriguez is survived by his wife, Michele Rodriguez; two sons, Jeremy and Bryan Rodriguez; daughter Shannon Kelso; three grandchildren; and a sister.