Deaf student breaks barriers

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- A Providence teen would love to break another barrier through her senior project.

18-year-old Amber Rodriguez is a high school senior with dreams of becoming a police officer, so getting tugged along by one of Providence’s two explosive detection dogs makes for a perfect project.

This is a first for Providence Patrolman Linc Sisson, and Kyra the Belgian Shepherd, who is stronger than she looks.

Amber is a sharp shooter on the court for the Rhode Island School For The Deaf, and competes on the basketball court as well as in the classroom.

Her desire to protect and serve combined with her love of animals sparked her unique senior project idea.

“I’m learning about how she sniffs out the bombs, how she can find and detect some of the bombs that are hidden,” Amber said.

While Amber’s athleticism would be an advantage to the rigors of police work, she knows she would probably be the first deaf officer.

“Deaf people are a little more visual, so I would be able to see a lot of things before they happen. We are more attentive with our eyes,” she said.

Amber is serious about trying to break that barrier, but if not, she would like to get as close to police or security work as she can.