Aurora – The city is beefing up efforts to train police to speak Spanish – the language of a growing number of people they serve.
A pilot online training program called has received positive reports from participants, officials said. About 15 officers currently take the course, but the program could be expanded to the 600- plus member force.
Similar programs are being employed in police and fire departments, and by some school districts, throughout Colorado. They won’t make an officer, firefighter or teacher fluent but can help break the language barrier quickly during an emergency.
“It makes a big difference,” Silverthorne police Officer Theresa Barger said. “We’re getting to the point now where we can really help people if they need it.”
Aurora’s Hispanic population has increased over the past decade to 25 percent of the city’s 300,000 residents. While officials do not know how many primarily speak Spanish, they see more Spanish-only speakers, especially in northwestern Aurora, where many immigrant families live.
Aurora police Detective Cliff Hunter recently knocked on the door of a northern Aurora home, looking for an identity-theft suspect. Someone speaking Spanish answered.
Hunter had taken Spanish on Patrol about a year ago, paying for it himself. While his use of the language was a little shaky, he was able to learn that the suspect did not live there.
“It’s a valuable tool,” Hunter said. “By learning numerous phrases in Spanish, it can really help out.”
Kendal Knetemann, who owns and operates , says participating officers won’t become experts or learn to conjugate verbs.
But they will learn up to 2,400 basic words and phrases they might need on the beat. Phrases and words such as “¿Hay alguien herido? (Is anyone hurt?), “¿Ha tomado alcohol?” (Have you drank alcohol?) and “perico” (slang for cocaine) are terms taught in the program.
“It gives them the ability to communicate in a crisis situation,” Knetemann said.
Officers also are taught cultural differences. In some Latino cultures, a child may not look someone in the eye, which actually can be a sign of respect, Knetemann said.
Polly Baca, president of the Latin American Research and Service Agency, which is dedicated to improving the lives of Latinos, said she has been urging police departments to train their officers to speak Spanish. “As public servants, it’s very important they know the language of the people they serve.”
Reaching out to the Latino community goes beyond law enforcement.
As an incentive, Aurora city employees receive additional pay of up to $1,000 a year if they are proficient in a second language. About 66 people have qualified this year.
Aurora Public Schools recently signed up 700 teachers for a course Knetemann runs called MySpanish .
The patrol program has been used by 140 agencies nationwide, including Westminster, Longmont, Fort Collins, Castle Rock and Silverthorne. Other cities have used different training programs. Denver police, for instance, attended language classes and were tested on proficiency.
Aurora officials may expand the training to all first responders, including firefighters, EMTs, jailers and park rangers. But that decision won’t be made until the 15 officers finish the pilot program.
The cost would not be significant to the city. Twenty-five officers can receive the training for about $700, and 500 officers for about $9,000.
Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier, chairman of the city’s Public Safety Committee, said the program makes sense as more Spanish speakers call the city home.
“Communication is everything,” Frazier said. “Our ability to deliver public safety depends on our ability to communicate with our citizens.”
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
