Metro officers taking new language to the streets

Keith Paul

Friday, Sept. 29, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

They stumbled over pronunciations, teased each other and helped each other. These students are much like any others trying to learn Spanish, but for them, knowing the language could keep them out of harm's way.

A small group of Metro Police officers gather in a conference room at the Southeast Substation each Wednesday for two hours, trying to learn the only language more and more Las Vegas residents speak.

"For them, knowing two or three words of Spanish could save their lives," said Francisco Madrigal, an UNLV instructor teaching the officers. "I am teaching Spanish that is useful for what they need to do."

So practicing sentences like "Where is the grocery store?" is replaced with questions like "Who has invaded your house? and "Is the suspect disarmed?"

Officer Scott Baker wanted to improve his little bit of Spanish knowledge and with the help of UNLV's continuing education department, a class was organized.

For the officers, the need to learn Spanish is obvious every day.

"There are times that something that could be solved very quickly, takes so much longer because (the citizens) don't speak English and (officers) don't speak Spanish," said Officer Jim Rogan, who is enrolled in the class.

Metro does have a roster of about 85 employees (police and civilian) who can serve as translators for non-Spanish speaking officers, and they are busy most nights.

"Some nights all I would do is go from one call to another call to translate," said Officer Tirso Dominguez, a native speaker born in Mexico who was on the translator list while he was patrolling the streets. "After a while, I was just like the official translator and not doing the police work I wanted to do."

Dominguez said the officers will benefit from learning not only a new language but a new culture.

Baker has already found out knowing Spanish -- even if it's just a rudimentary understanding -- is a big help on the street.

"The residents are very receptive of the attempt to speak to them in Spanish," Baker said. "They seem to try a little harder to communicate."

Jorge Galindo, an assistant UNLV professor who coordinated the Metro class, said the officers need to have an understanding of the people they are talking to and where they came from.

"They need to know things like some people from Mexico and Colombia may be afraid of the police because of the police in their countries," he said.

Metro has been trying to recruit more Hispanics as well as other minorities with outreach efforts like the symposium, "Hispanics in Las Enforcement," held last weekend, said Officer David Cienega of the department's recruitment unit.

But the language class, "is more than just a good idea, anymore it's a necessity," he said.

"Sometimes our safety could depended on it," said Cienega, who also frequently served as a translator when he was working as a patrol officer.

Barker said about 50 officers expressed an interest in the class, but many had scheduling conflicts.

Once a week the small group of officers, who each paid nearly $200, sit around a table armed with their "Spanish for Law Enforcement Personnel" textbook to learn the language. Under Metro's tuition reimbursement policy, the officers will get their money back if they pass the class. They will also get three credits from UNLV if they pass. "They are all doing very well," Madrigal said. "They are very motivated and are trying very hard."