When Fredericksburg police officers were called to a parking lot dispute, the officers were lucky to have University of Mary Washington junior Joel Carrillo on hand to translate—and help resolve the quarrel involving a Spanish-speaking couple.
Carrillo is one of seven students providing volunteer Spanish translating services to the city police department. He partners with an officer during the Friday night shift each week, sometimes spending nearly 12 hours responding to calls and crimes within the city.
Prior to the city police collaboration with UMW, officers and 911 dispatchers used the Language Line, a paid translation service offered over the phone. In addition, federal funds covered part-time, paid translators who rode with officers until the grant funds ran out at the end of 2009.
Working with university students has been more beneficial, as it saves money and time, said Natatia Bledsoe, Fredericksburg police spokeswoman. “The student translators are on-site and fully engaged with both the officer and the person needing translation, and they also have the benefit of understanding the full context of a situation because they are experiencing it alongside the officer,” said Bledsoe.
Carrillo, who grew up in Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish, began as a volunteer translator with the city police department in fall 2010 after learning about the opportunity through Professor of Spanish Ana Garcia Chichester.
Since then, he has assisted between 15 and 20 times, and he is currently completing an academic internship with the police department.
The day-to-day nature of the job varies as Carrillo accompanies officers on shifts and ensures communication between Spanish speakers and officers is accurately conveyed between all parties.
“It’s kind of like being on a roller coaster,” said Carrillo, a Spanish major.
Working alongside officers, Carrillo has been able to use his translating skills during a range of calls and traffic stops.
During a recent shift, an officer and Carrillo were called to help with a traffic stop on another side of town. A Spanish-speaking woman who spoke no English had been pulled over for running a red light and driving without a license.
As he did in the retail parking lot, Carrillo stood between the woman and the officers, communicating information back and forth.
“It’s a ping pong effect,” said Carrillo. “The purpose of us being out there is to help the Spanish speakers who speak little to no English.”
In addition to riding with officers, students provide other services to the department, such as assisting in the 911 center and helping to interview victims, witnesses and crime suspects.
“Say someone gets robbed and they have to explain the suspect’s age and looks to the police so police will catch the suspect,” said Carrillo. “If they don’t know how to express themselves, I help them.”
Senior Chase Kelley of Dallas, Texas, also volunteers with the department.
Kelley, who is interested in a career in law enforcement, gained firsthand experience in the daily job of an officer while also utilizing his Spanish skills to ensure accurate communication.
“There definitely is a need for Spanish speaking police officers, not just in Fredericksburg, but all over the country as well,” said Kelley, a Spanish major. “Volunteering for me was a way that I could give back to the community. It makes the jobs of the officers a little easier because the language barrier is no longer an issue. That eliminates a lot of frustration and confusion both from the officer and the citizen.”
Carrillo hopes that as a result of the partnership between university students and the police department, the department will be more prepared to resolve problems with Hispanic Americans who do not speak English.
“The chief of police of the city of Fredericksburg has taken note that there is a large population of Hispanics or Latinos within and around his jurisdiction,” said Carrillo. “I feel that I can help if something happens to them where they have to resort to the police or if they are in trouble with the police, serving as their voice when they cannot help themselves.”
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When Fredericksburg police officers were called to a parking lot dispute, the officers were lucky to have University of Mary Washington junior Joel Carrillo on hand to translate—and help resolve the quarrel involving a Spanish-speaking couple.
Carrillo is one of seven students providing volunteer Spanish translating services to the city police department. He partners with an officer during the Friday night shift each week, sometimes spending nearly 12 hours responding to calls and crimes within the city.
Prior to the city police collaboration with UMW, officers and 911 dispatchers used the Language Line, a paid translation service offered over the phone. In addition, federal funds covered part-time, paid translators who rode with officers until the grant funds ran out at the end of 2009.
Working with university students has been more beneficial, as it saves money and time, said Natatia Bledsoe, Fredericksburg police spokeswoman. “The student translators are on-site and fully engaged with both the officer and the person needing translation, and they also have the benefit of understanding the full context of a situation because they are experiencing it alongside the officer,” said Bledsoe.
Carrillo, who grew up in Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish, began as a volunteer translator with the city police department in fall 2010 after learning about the opportunity through Professor of Spanish Ana Garcia Chichester.
Since then, he has assisted between 15 and 20 times, and he is currently completing an academic internship with the police department.
The day-to-day nature of the job varies as Carrillo accompanies officers on shifts and ensures communication between Spanish speakers and officers is accurately conveyed between all parties.
“It’s kind of like being on a roller coaster,” said Carrillo, a Spanish major.
Working alongside officers, Carrillo has been able to use his translating skills during a range of calls and traffic stops.
During a recent shift, an officer and Carrillo were called to help with a traffic stop on another side of town. A Spanish-speaking woman who spoke no English had been pulled over for running a red light and driving without a license.
As he did in the retail parking lot, Carrillo stood between the woman and the officers, communicating information back and forth.
“It’s a ping pong effect,” said Carrillo. “The purpose of us being out there is to help the Spanish speakers who speak little to no English.”
In addition to riding with officers, students provide other services to the department, such as assisting in the 911 center and helping to interview victims, witnesses and crime suspects.
“Say someone gets robbed and they have to explain the suspect’s age and looks to the police so police will catch the suspect,” said Carrillo. “If they don’t know how to express themselves, I help them.”
Senior Chase Kelley of Dallas, Texas, also volunteers with the department.
Kelley, who is interested in a career in law enforcement, gained firsthand experience in the daily job of an officer while also utilizing his Spanish skills to ensure accurate communication.
“There definitely is a need for Spanish speaking police officers, not just in Fredericksburg, but all over the country as well,” said Kelley, a Spanish major. “Volunteering for me was a way that I could give back to the community. It makes the jobs of the officers a little easier because the language barrier is no longer an issue. That eliminates a lot of frustration and confusion both from the officer and the citizen.”
Carrillo hopes that as a result of the partnership between university students and the police department, the department will be more prepared to resolve problems with Hispanic Americans who do not speak English.
“The chief of police of the city of Fredericksburg has taken note that there is a large population of Hispanics or Latinos within and around his jurisdiction,” said Carrillo. “I feel that I can help if something happens to them where they have to resort to the police or if they are in trouble with the police, serving as their voice when they cannot help themselves.”