Darlene Rodriguez Biography

Darlene Rodriguez (née Pomales) is co-anchor of Today in New York on WNBC. Rodriguez became co-anchor of the show in July 2003 after serving as a reporter for WNBC and then co-anchor of Weekend Today in New York.

Rodriguez has also served as a fill-in newsreader for Ann Curry on The Today Show on NBC. Prior to working for WNBC, she was a general assignment reporter for WCBS Newsradio 88 for four years, and worked as a reporter for the BronxNet cable television network.

Rodriguez, who is of Puerto Rican ancestry is a native of the Bronx. She is a 1988 graduate of Christopher Columbus High School in that borough, and a 1992 graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in broadcast journalism and political science. While in college, Rodriguez was instrumental in creating various local cable news programs which focused on cross-cultural cuisines. Her passion for cooking and crocheting (which she learned as a child) still occupy most of her free time. She lives currently in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.

In February 2008, her husband, David Rodriguez of the New Rochelle Police Department, was accused of rape by a 17 year-old girl. David Rodriguez was arrested March 18, 2008 on a charge of first-degree rape, and was arraigned the following day where he pled not guilty and was freed on $25,000 bail. During this time, he was suspended with pay by the New Rochelle police department. His wife was with him during the arraignment.

In September 2008, her husband pleaded guilty to official misconduct, in exchange for the rape charges against him being dropped. In the plea bargain, he admitted to having sexual contact with the alleged victim while his attorney maintains that there was never sexual intercourse. Sergeant Rodriguez resigned from the police department the week prior. While she did not accompany him on the day of the plea deal, she expressed her support for her husband publicly later that day. Mr. Rodriguez received a one-year conditional release discharge, similar to occupational probation.