Latino Police Students: ‘People Will See Officers Like Themselves’

The beating by Riverside County sheriffs’ deputies of two Mexican immigrants who had been in a truck fleeing authorities continues to generate controversy. There was a protest march in Los Angeles, two lawsuits have been filed and Riverside deputies plan a march Monday in support of their department’s reputation. Latino students in police science programs and the L.A. County sheriff’s academy talked with JIM BLAIR about the incident and what their presence in law enforcement might mean.

PHILIP SOLIS, Graduate student in public policy administration, Cal State Long Beach, with undergraduate degree in criminal justice

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I think that being a member of a minority group is a positive thing as far as law enforcement is concerned, because you have a different view than other people do. What’s going to happen is that the alienation that law enforcement has faced is going to change because people will see police officers who are like themselves.

I was an intern [with] the South Gate Police Department over the past year. I worked in their community policing program. I think the root problem of crime is people not participating in the community. That’s a problem--people just come home and there’s no sense of community spirit. So when they see a crime or when they see something occurring they don’t do anything about it.

I have been around law enforcement officers for a long time and I have yet to see anyone or come across anyone who was truly a racist. Most of the people that I know in law enforcement do it because of the gratification of serving the public. You have to remember that they are human beings and have frailties like anybody, but overt racism hasn’t been something that I’ve really come across.

JORGE LOZANO, 25, recent criminal justice/law enforcement graduate OF Cal State Long Beach

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At first when I thought about being a police officer, [it was to] get into law enforcement and make a difference--to change the police departments. They have a bad reputation. Everybody thinks that they’re the bad guys, bad cops that just want to beat up on people. And I wanted to be one of the good persons out there and set an example and be a community person.

But then I started to see how police work really is. There’s too much stress. I’m married and 85% of the married couples end up in divorce because there’s so much stress. The wives worry a lot.

I plan to have kids and there’s a lot of danger involved. [You can get] shot at anywhere, and then what’s going to happen to my wife and kids? I know there’s a lot of money to be made in being a police officer. LAPD could start you off at $35,000 and if you’re bilingual you get a bonus. But all of that didn’t really attract me because I’m looking at the long run. I’m looking at my future, so I’m hoping now to join the U.S. Customs Service.

I didn’t agree with what the [Riverside Sheriff’s Dept.] officers did when they hit the illegal immigrants with the batons. If it’s a high-speed chase, it doesn’t matter. Your job is only to arrest them. The court will decide the punishment. It’s not right for the police officers to take their job like that, personally. I don’t want to become that. I don’t want to become one of them.

ANTHONY PELAEZ, 21, deputy sheriff trainee, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Academy

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The majority of cities around here are Hispanic. I am a fluent Spanish speaker and a lot of Hispanics out there feel more comfortable speaking with a Hispanic than a person who does not speak Spanish at all. I have been on several different ride-alongs where I have helped officers during these Spanish-speaking incidents.

I feel there is a need for [more minority participation in law enforcement]; but I feel that the department is doing a pretty good job about hiring minorities. My father became a sheriff’s deputy and I’ll try to follow in his footsteps. I became an Explorer Scout for the Temple City Sheriff’s Department and was became captain of my post there. I enjoyed the job and basically that’s what I wanted--to go into law enforcement.

JOSE GARCIA, 37, deputy sheriff trainee, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Academy.

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I’m from Cuba. I came in 1969 when I was 11 years old. I’ve always looked up to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs’ Department ever since I’ve been in this country. After being self-employed for 18 years in a family business, I kept wanting to [become a sheriff’s deputy]. I discussed it with my wife and my kids and I just decided I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.

One thing I know I can do is help people understand that we’re there to help them. We’re not their enemies. For example I went on a ride-along a couple of days ago and we had a vehicle pull-over. The guy didn’t speak any English and the deputy didn’t speak any Spanish. I was able to kind of ease the person and explain to him what was happening. I could tell he felt a lot more comfortable. [It’s important] just being able to speak to people in terms that they can understand so they don’t feel like they’re left out or intimidated.

I think overall most Hispanics have a lot of respect for police. They do feel a little intimidated, but mostly it’s because their lack of understanding the language well and not being able to communicate.

DAVID R. ALVAREZ, 24, criminal justice major, Cal State L.A.

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Personally, I don’t see that my being a Latino is how the community will react to me, because when someone sees a police officer, I think they see them more as an authority figure of the law. They don’t really see the race itself.

One thing I could bring to the job, however, is bilingualism. If the Riverside County sheriffs knew Spanish, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be in the situation that they are now.

I have three specific reasons why I want to enter police work. One is the job security. It’s rare that you hear that a police department in the United States lays off any of their officers. Second, it’s a well-paying professional career. When I do get married and have children, I’ll be able to provide for them. Third, it’s a job that’s very difficult to get bored with. Something different happens every day. You meet different people all the time.