Officers use native language to break ethnic barriers - Spartanburg, South Carolina

“The newest member of Greer’s police department is a 27-year-old former New Jersey truck driver who wanted more out of life and decided to become a cop.

Although Jose Hernandez, 27, won’t start training at the state Police Academy until March, he’s already shadowing the department’s training officer, learning the ropes at the jail and serving as an interpreter.

He’s the second Hispanic officer hired in hopes of making the department more closely mirror the community it serves. With Greer’s Hispanic population growing faster than any other subgroup “it’s obvious” why Hernandez and officers like him are being actively recruited, Police Chief Dan Reynolds said.”

Stumble it! | |