Female Officer
(Photo : pxhere)

The increasing number of Hispanics and Latinos living in the United States is undeniable. It is estimated that there are more than 55 million Hispanics and Latinos living across the U.S. who are fortunate to have prosperous lives, but unfortunately others face different challenges in their everyday life.

Communication is very important among people who live in the U.S. In an article published in Latin Post, one of the tips suggested to become a successful immigrant is to learn how to speak proper English. However, there are instances where there is also a need to have a person in authority who understands the language of other cultures.

In a recent article published in News 3 WTKR, the Virginia Beach Police Department is now looking to recruit more Spanish-speaking police officers or Hispanics and Latinos to be part of their department amidst the growing population in the city. Having Hispanic cops in the department will pave the way to keep in touch and communicate with Hispanics and Latinos living in the city.

One of the reasons why the Virginia Beach Police Department decided to hire Hispanic cops is because of the language barrier. There were instances in their previous experience where it is hard for them to understand a crime report due to the language barrier, and adding Hispanic cops will assist them when it comes to solving crimes in the Hispanic and Latino community. Officer David Nieves said that Spanish is the second-most used language in the city today.  

The Department's Police Recruitment Coordinator, Cynthia Santiago, who has been in the department for 10 years, said in an interview that her ability to speak Spanish has helped the department in situations where the crime is reported by a Hispanic or a Latino. Her role as a Hispanic cop is indeed very significant because there are only a few of officers who can fluently speak and understand the Spanish language.

Santiago said, "A good example of either a DUI or domestics I had to respond to and there were people who did not speak English and were Spanish-speaking."

Meanwhile, it is not just Hispanic cops that the Virginia Beach Police Department is looking for, but also those who have the ability to speak and understand the language. Nieves believed that one of the reasons why there are only a few Hispanic cops is due to cultural differences and he also believed that this is something that must be changed.

In a separate interview, he said, "There's not a lot of Spanish-speaking police officers or Latinos on the police department because it wasn't something that is pushed in our culture and it's not something that's pushed in our homes, and I think now it's time to change."

Those who are interested to join the Virginia Beach Police Department can attend the recruitment process every Monday night's Hispanics Police Academy. The Academy meets every Monday night at the Seatack Recreation Center or you may choose to visit the webpage of VBPD's Employment Page for more details.