ORANGE : Language Gap Target of Mexico Program

On a recent Sunday, the Orange fire and police departments handled four emergency calls in a row in which firefighters and officers could not communicate with witnesses or victims.

“There was no (officer) on the site who spoke Spanish and we were stuck with groping in the crowd to find a translator,” Police Lt. Timm Browne said.

The experience is common throughout Orange County, he said. In Orange, for example, only three officers out of 65 in the Police Department’s patrol division are fluent in Spanish.

“With the rapidly changing demographics happening throughout Orange County we simply do not have the ability for our officers to speak with the community,” Browne said.

Seeking a way to change that, Browne has come up with a quick, economical way to close the language gap and help introduce officers to Mexican culture. Next month, five officers from Orange will attend a free three-week language exchange program in Queretaro, Mexico, Orange’s sister city.

“Everything they do from the moment they step off the plane, they’ll be learning,” Browne said. “No English will be spoken.”

The city will pay the cost of air fare and cover the officers’ salaries while they are in the program. Officers will stay with Queretaro residents and receive free language instruction, books and supplies. Browne and Officers John Mauger, Cathie Ralph, Tammy South and Dave Hill will leave Aug. 1.

Within weeks after the Orange officers return, the city will host officers from Queretaro. Browne said he would like to see eight Orange officers a year attend the program.