New SJPD Recruits Required To Learn Spanish

June 20 (ABC7) — Beginning today in San Jose, police recruits and new hires are required to learn basic Spanish. The Latino community accounts for a big portion of San Jose's population, and the police department is hoping this new program will help make the city even safer. ABC7's Thuy Vu reports.

Officers in training at the San Jose Police Academy are learning not only how to shoot, but how to speak Spanish as part of their jobs.

They're studying the basics -- numbers, the alphabet and key phrases they'll need in the field.

Eric Sills, San Jose Police Dept.: "Are you injured? Do you need a doctor? Do you need to go to the hospital? What happened? Could you describe the vehicle?"

San Jose doesn't keep statistics on how many police responses require Spanish speaking officers, but the police department says they happen every day in this city where Latinos make up nearly a third of the population.

Rob Davis, San Jose Police Chief: "I'll still go out on patrol and I'll hear some officer go to a call and I'll hear 'I need a Spanish speaking officer.' Well, there's a time delay there to get that Spanish speaking officer over to translate."

San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis is fluent in Spanish, and about 20 percent of the city's officers already speak the language.

The police department is hoping to get that number up to 75 percent.

Eric Kim, officer in training: "I think it's a good idea since we are in San Jose, where's there's a high population in the Mexican community."

Tony Fregger, officer in training: "Being able to communicate with these people just on a basic matter, names, date of birth, addresses, phone numbers, simple things like that, it'll help us out tremendously."

Latino community leaders like the idea, too.

Fernando Zazueta, attorney: "If that word gets out that the police department is trying to reach out to that community, that will increase the likelihood of people looking at police in a favorable light and report suspicious activities."

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