IMPD Striving to Break Language Barrier with Hispanic Community(posted Sept 29) Although the IMPD Northwest District is just ten months old, the department is redefining the Hispanic/ Latino Crime Watch that was started by the old Indianapolis Police Department prior to the January 1 , 2007 police merger with the Marion County Sheriff's Department. Commander of the IMPD Northwest District Major Paul R. Ciesielski said the initiative is not a result of the recent Department of Justice Weed and Seed grant. However, both programs have similar goals to reach out to the Hispanic/Latino population to let them know they no longer have to be victimized. Ciesielski explained the district has been pushing neighborhoods and neighborhood associations to start crime watch groups. He credited Donna Forbes, crime watch coordinator, with assisting nine neighborhoods in starting programs. He noted that the Hispanic and Latino community often ignored the crime watch meetings because of the lack of a translator to explain as well as forward the issues. The initiative is to let the Hispanic/Latino population know they do not have to be victimized by crime and not to fear the police by using Patrol Officer Candi Perry and her bilingual skills to break the communication barriers and to encourage the Hispanic and Latino community to speak out against crimes. Perry was assigned to Northwest District after the merger and has been working with apartment managers to start hosting crime watch meetings. It is more of an educational process of how the law works here compared to Mexico. Perry has traveled to Honduras and more recently police officers from Hiladgo, Mexico came to Indianapolis to observe our police methods. Perry said in Mexico it is common for a driver that is pulled over to get out of his car. It is also a common custom for this nationality to keep their hands in their pockets. The is a stark contrast to police procedures here where the driver remains in the car or if he is asked to get out of the car his hands are placed on the hood or visible to the officer at all times. She also noted that drinking beer is of common place and it is not against the law to drive under the influence. She noted the jails there serve as place to sober up with no charges being filed. The Hispanic Latino population does not understand that drunk driving is illegal in the US and why they are being read their Miranda Rights. "There are no Miranda Rights in Mexico. The police rule," she said. They also do not understand if they fail to appear in the court, a warrant will be issued for their arrest. Perry also noted that it is important to be able to convey a clear understanding of what the Miranda rights mean and the right to have an attorney. The lack of understanding on the part of the defendant could cause the case to be tossed out. Part of the crime watch initiative is educating the Hispanics and Latinos about police procedures. Perry plans to visits different apartment complexes on the west side through the week of October 13-18. Perry has no idea how many people will come, but even if only one person attended the meeting it could make a difference. She noted that developing a rapport with a recent apartment manager has provided her with 17 contacts to help combat crime. Officers can receive educational courses to speak Spanish at all different levels. Ciesielski said not only does the department have officers that can speak Spanish, others can speak foreign languages to handle situations involving Polish, Serbian, and French speaking people, especially during the F-1 race. "The request is rare," he said. Perry plans to conduct the Hispanic/Latino Crime Watch meetings at these locations: The Cedars, 3417 N. Rybolt Avenue, - 3 pm Oct 13 The Strafford, 5221 Hillsboro, 5 pm Oct 15 Abington Apartments, 4656 Edwardian Court, 7 pm Oct 15 Greystone Village Apartments, 5505 Scarlet Drive, 5 pm Oct 16 Las Palmas, 3557-3559 Mission Drive, 3 pm Oct 16 Eagle Terrace 5816 W. 38th Street, 5p.m. Oct 17 Covered Bridge Apartments, 4909 Covered Bridge, 3 p.m. Oct 17 La Perla,3287 Tara Ct E, 5 pm Oct 18 Cambridge Commons, 4959 Oakhurst Dr, 3 pm. Oct 18 The crime watch number is 327-6613 Ciesielski also noted that the Northwest District has started a business crime watch in the Lafayette Square Area and he wants to assimilate the Hispanic and Latino business owners into the existing crime watch group instead of forming an independent Hispanic group. |
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