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MEDFORD POLICE OUTREACH Medford police reach out to Latino community Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jun. 20, 2016 at 3:28 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jun. 20, 2016 at 3:28 PM » Social News A series of Spanish-language community events is the Medford Police Department's latest effort to reach out to the Latino population. For the first three Wednesdays in June, eight bilingual Medford police officers and audiences of roughly 50 Spanish speakers participated in "Latino Citizen's Academy" at Medford City Hall. Alfredo Flores, editor of the Spanish-language Caminos magazine, attended the three weekly sessions, which Medford police said had 48 attend the June 1 presentation and 65 at the June 15 event. "It was a successful event," Flores said. "All three days it grew." Flores said the event covered a variety of topics, from information about scams that typically target the Latino community, to ways to spot and report gang activity, to a written translation into Spanish of the police department's policy regarding immigration issues. “To me it just let us know what the laws are,” Flores said. “They don’t make stops on immigration status — they’re not allowed to.” Policy 428 of the Medford Police Department manual says the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is responsible for immigration enforcement, and that the department won't stop someone based on suspected immigration status alone. Deputy Chief Brett Johnson, support bureau commander for the police department, said by state law, undocumented victims of crime aren't reported. "We want folks to call us when they're the victim of a crime," Johnson said. Immigration and Customs Enforcement isn't typically notified of people arrested by police and lodged in the county jail, the policy says. “We’re there to help them, not to look into immigration issues,” Johnson said. Flores said a study by Oregon Health & Science University's nursing program in partnership with the police department shows that members of the Latino community are the least likely to report a crime. “Latinos are most likely to not report a crime because they themselves are afraid of police officers,” Flores said. The reasons for that fear and distrust can include experiences of police corruption in Mexico and Latin America, and the fear of that their immigration status could be jeopardized. Johnson said the outreach series, which included a translated introduction by Medford Police Chief Randy Sparacino and Spanish PowerPoint presentations from eight officers, is uncommon. The closest similar event is in Las Vegas, Johnson said. "It's not very common that this is done," Johnson said. Flores said the members of the Latino community who attended were engaged and asked questions during police police presentations, such as one for parents about what youth clothing could be mistaken for gang apparel. "They asked a lot of questions," Flores said. "They voiced their concerns. To me, that shows something's changing, that they're not as scared anymore." Medford Cultural Liaison Coordinator Lilia Caballero worked with Flores, Spanish radio stations and the Hispanic Interagency Committee to spread the word about the series, which Johnson and Flores said they plan to offer annually. The series is not the police department's sole effort at outreach to the Latino community. The department has had a monthly column in Caminos for five years with seasonal public safety advice — such as securing homes before vacation — and has participated in a Spanish language call-in radio show before. The department also regularly provides Spanish news releases to Spanish radio stations, Flores said. “They publicize information in our magazine, they do school presentations." he said. “Their outreach is real.” Flores said he saw the Latino community step up in its participation. The department gave participation awards to people who attended, something attendees valued. Some even sought to collect awards for those who attended the first two events but missed the third. Ideas for the series began roughly six months ago, Flores said, when he sat down with Caballero and Johnson to discuss ideas for the program. Flores said he admired the department's follow-through to make it happen. "For me, one too many times I hear about an organization wanting to do something for the Latino community and the plan was never executed," he said. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jun. 20, 2016 at 3:28 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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