How Dublin police are working to overcome language barriers

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- As central Ohio communities become more diverse, so are central Ohio police departments.

They are making sure to have officers who speak several languages to properly communicate with all types of people in times of crisis. The Dublin Police Department currently has four bilingual staff members: two in the records department and two police officers.

James Williamson is a records supervisor with Dublin police. He speaks fluent Mandarin.

“Having the skill to be able to interact with our Asian populations, that speaks Mandarin, that's been extremely helpful for folks that come into a justice center, whether it's to retrieve a report or to obtain victim services,” Williamson said.

Rigoberto Quintanilla is a patrol officer and school resource officer with Dublin. He speaks fluent Spanish.

“I use it quite often," Quintanilla said. "Davis middle school has a very predominant population of Spanish speakers as well as many other languages."

Both men said they’ve felt a shift in how officers are received just through proper communication.

“I certainly think as we move into the future, as I think most police agencies are focusing on building trust and implementing the principle of community policing, this is certainly to be a priority for most agencies,” Williamson said.

They said they often talk to people on their hardest days.

“It gives you the ability to have some empathy and some sympathy when you're communicating,” Quintanilla said.

Dublin is also working to bridge the gap using technology. They have upgraded their phone systems to include several languages. If you call Dublin police, callers can hear messaging in English, Spanish, Hindi and Mandarin.

Dublin is also implementing new translation technology on tablets. If someone like Williamson or Quintanilla is not there, the person working the front desk can use this tablet to translate and communicate. The tablets are able to instantly translate more than 50 languages, including sign language.

“We've seen tremendous success with that system," Williamson said. "For a city as diverse as we are, it's been instrumental."

Dublin is not the only police agency with bilingual officers. Whitehall, Gahanna, Bexley, Columbus and other departments also have officers who speak different languages.

“All of a sudden you see this like exhale of, okay, they're not going to misunderstand," Quintalla said. "He's not going to misunderstand something I'm either saying or doing because I can communicate with him effectively."

Dublin is implementing the translation technology in all city buildings, including rec centers.