From the age of 5, Marcelino Perez knew he wanted to be a police officer and make the community a safer place.

As a child growing up in South Tucson, Perez was rarely allowed to play outside in his neighborhood, with his parents telling him it was too dangerous because of drunk drivers or free-roaming dogs that might attack.

That experience led Perez, who still lives in the same house, to want to make a difference and give back to his community.

And he’s close to achieving his goal of becoming a police officer, having graduated from the University of Arizona last month with a degree in criminal justice.

There’s just one problem: At 17 years old, Perez doesn’t meet the minimum age requirement to work as a police officer in most departments.

Perez, known as “Arlo” to friends and family, graduated from the UA in just a year and a half. He was able to read by the time he was 2 and solve difficult multiplication and division problems by the age of 5.

The middle child, born seven years after his older sister and seven years before his younger sister, Perez didn’t realize his academic gifts until he was enrolled in school and tested alongside his peers.

He recalls his time in elementary school to be “boring and unchallenged”. 

“Usually my teachers would just give me more work to keep me busy since I would finish everything way before my peers,” Perez said.

When Perez was in second grade, his older sister, who was in high school, jokingly asked him to do her homework.

To her surprise, he completed it perfectly. 

“My dad didn’t even know how to do it, so it was pretty cool,” Perez said.

Despite his early academic success, Perez said he grew up like any other kid in South Tucson. He and his family would ride bikes, play basketball and go to the Tanque Verde Swap Meet on the weekends.

But unlike other kids, Perez leveraged those trips to the swap meet into a small business selling toys. By the time he was 12, he’d saved up enough money to buy himself a car.

Growing up, Perez looked up to his Uncle DaMiko, who was just 15 years older and more like an older brother. 

“He always helped me out as a kid, gave me good life advice, and always said I could call him if I needed anything, which I did a couple times,” Perez said. 

By third grade, Perez’s parents had enrolled him in Leman Academy on the east side of town, where they believed he’d be challenged.

But Perez found himself struggling, since he was used to the slower-paced work environment at his old school, and soon, he was no longer the top of his class. 

“Leman Academy shaped my vision,” Perez said. “Seeing these kids able to keep up with the work when they did not start at the school either. But I was the one who had to drop out.”

After spending a quarter at Leman, Perez’s parents moved him back to public school, where he settled back into his routine and continued to grow. 

He began attending Sonoran Science Academy, a charter school focusing on STEM education, as a sixth grader when he was 10. He transferred to Family Life Academy, a private school, for seventh grade, and attended Nosotros Academy for his eighth grade year.

He started Pueblo High School as a freshman when he was 13, setting his sights on earning valedictorian while also graduating early. His busiest semester saw Perez enrolled in 14 classes.

He graduated in two years with a 4.0 GPA and was honored during an awards ceremony at the UA for outstanding students.

Perez said that standing in front of the crowd who applauded his early academic achievements was the first time he felt he’d felt seen and acknowledged by his community.

A few years later, he was honored again for his academic success when UA News published a story on its website highlighting Perez during graduation week.

A first-generation college student, Perez made the feat seem effortless, taking classes at the UA and Pima Community College simultaneously.

During his busiest semester, Perez earned 48 credits between 16 courses at the two schools.

Since he can’t be a police officer until 2028, Perez, who double-minored in agricultural technology management and education, will be giving back in another way while he waits.

He's going to work as a teacher in the city of Tucson.

While he says he deeply values his South Tucson roots, he’s not tying himself to the community when it comes to career options.

“I would be open to moving anywhere where I could make a difference,” he said.

During his last semester at the UA, Marcelino interned at the Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center, a nonprofit that supports children who are victims of or witnesses to crimes.

That’s where he met his now-fiancée, Valerie, who was living in Yuma at the time. The pair said when they met, they “just knew right away.”

In his free time, Perez enjoys playing basketball with his friends and driving his dark blue Dodge Charger named “Noelle.”

He’s looking forward to working as a teacher, which will allow him to help the community and his family at the same time, saying he wants to help his parents retire early.

He’s also looking forward to inspiring the next generation and is ready to start doling out the advice.

“Don’t let people put limits on you,” he said. “Let them see your potential.”

Abbie Andrus is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight reporter. Contact her at asandrus@arizona.edu.

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