Bilingual volunteers to serve as translators for HPD patrol units

Acevedo describes program as ‘epitome of relational policing’

Police Chief Art Acevedo is planning to team up bilingual volunteers with his patrol units to serve as translators and unofficial liaisons, an effort to improve critical communications between his peace officers and residents who speak foreign languages.

Acevedo on Monday announced the department is continuing efforts underway to recruit volunteers who are fluent in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, Urdu or Hindi and Korean for the program, which Acevedo described as the “epitome of relational policing.”

The need is obvious in Houston, one of the most diverse major U.S. cities where nearly half of adults speak another language besides English in their homes. Houston Police Department officers have long been able to earn extra pay by completing foreign language training, but Acevedo’s efforts could bring many no-cost translators to assist officers.

“We want to make sure …when people are victims of crime and they need the services of the police department, when people are the witnesses of a crime ... and want to stand up for their neighbor, for a stranger, for a friend, for a family member, we want to make sure we get the information right, and we want to make sure they feel comfortable speaking to us,” Acevedo said.

The program, called “Communicators on Patrol,” will allow volunteers ride alongwith officers and help with policing, including issuing traffic tick-

“We want to make sure we get the information right, and we want to make sure (victims and witnesses) feel comfortable speaking to us.” Police Chief Art Acevedo

ets, reporting crimes and assisting victims of assault and domestic abuse, according to the department.

In some situations, translators can be helpful in de-escalating or preventing misunderstandings, Acevedo said.

Interested volunteers have to be bilingual, over 18 and a legal resident or U.S. citizen. Training by police and a passed criminal background check are also required.

Thirty people have already made it through the training process, Acevedo said. Nine of those are University of Houston-Downtown students, who are using the experience as an internship credit.

Volunteers could possibly be asked to testify in court if the need arises, according to the department.

Ronald Restrepo, a criminal justice student at UH-Downtown, said he feels the program will be helpful considering Houston’s diverse makeup.

Restrepo has personally had to translate for several family members who don’t speak English and said he thinks others will appreciate receiving that sort of service when communicating with police.

“I’m pretty sure a lot of people go through the same thing, and I think this program will be a great asset for people to take advantage of,” Restrepo said.

Estimates show that about 48 percent of Houston residents who are older than 5 speak a language other than English at home, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The census data does not specify how many of those people are bilingual.

Anyone interested in the program should call HPD’s Office of Public Affairs and request to speak to Officer Rafael Pantoja or Officer Muzaffar Siddiqi at 713-308-3200.