Highway Patrol has no need for official translators

Date: September 19, 2007
By: Ben DeMeyer
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: In the wake of a car crash in Clayton involving an illegal immigrant, The Missouri Highway Patrol says they have an plan in place to handle any language barriers.

Ben DeMeyer (DEE-my-er) has more from the State Capitol.

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The Director of the Missouri Highway Patrol's Public Information Division, Captain Tim Hull, says he does not think dealing with non-English speakers is a problem.

The Patrol does not employ anyone who acts exclusively as an interpreter, but Hull says he is confident in the system they have in place.

Actuality: HULL2.WAV

Run Time: 00:08

Description: And again, we have several officers that are trained and experienced and proficient in various languages.

Hull says the Patrol keeps a list of all officers who can speak languages other than English, and will call on them if an interpreter is necissary, even if that officer is off duty.

From the state capitol, this is Ben DeMeyer.

Intro: After a Spanish-speaking illegal immigrant crashed an SUV in Clayton, the Missouri Highway Patrol says they have a system to deal with language barriers.

Ben DeMeyer (DEE-my-er) has more from the state capitol.

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC According to Captain Tim Hull, the Missouri Highway Patrol's Director of the Public Information Division, the Patrol does not employ anyone exclusively as an interpreter. Instead, Hull says the Patrol keeps a list of officers proficient in more than one language, and calls on them to act as translators when necessary.

Actuality: HULL3.WAV

Run Time: 00:06

Description: Occasionally those officers may get called out at night to come assist with a case that somebody is working on

Hull says the system is effective, and does not for see the need to hire individuals to work exclusively as interpreters.

From the Jefferson City, this is Ben DeMeyer.

Intro: Following the crash in Clayton of an SUV driven by an illegal immigrant, the Missouri Highway patrol says they are always working to reduce language barriers.

Ben DeMeyer (DEE-my-er) has more from Jefferson City.

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC

The Director of the Missouri Highway Patrol's Public Information Division, Captain Tim Hull, says rather than hire translators, the Patrol keeps a list of officers proficient in languages other than English.

Hull says the Patrol is working on other ways to reduce language problems in law enforcement.

Actuality: HULL4.WAV

Run Time: 00:09

Description: The Patrol is also experimenting with some software with the in-car computer systems which make it capable to communicate in several different languages.

Hull says the multi-lingual officers may be called on to assisst others even while they are off duty.

From the state capitol, this is Ben DeMeyer.

[Missouri Digital News is produced by the State Government Reporting Program of the Missouri School of Journalism (home of the The Journalist's Creed) with support from the Missouri Press Association, the Missouri Broadcasters' Association, KMOX Radio in St. Louis and KSMU Radio in Springfield.
You can contact MDN at .
MDN was designed and is managed by Phill Brooks]