Desert Rat - Spanish

[Sandy]

There is a book called Spanish for Law Enforcement Personnel. It's a large paperback put out by Barron's. I've seen it in many bookstores.

E.g., Sabe lo que hizo? (Do you know what you were doing?) Estaba manejando contra el trafico (you were going against the traffic).

Or, No se mueva (don't move). Or, Yo no hago las leyes, solo las hago cumplir (I don't make the laws, I only enforce them). Or, Dese vuelta y ponga las manos encima del carro (turn around and put your hands on top of the car)!

Buena suerte!

[DesertRat]

Thanks, I received a message back regarding the school Niteshift and the others attended. I've got the application paperwork on the way and hopefully will have the Capt. seal of approval next week. Looking forward to that. Sounds like a great time if I can get in.

[Delta_V]

DR,

How large is the Spanish speaking population in Vegas? I'm thinking about taking some classes here in college, and just wondering how much it would help out there.

[BeachLaw]

Even if it's not big now, it will be. Hispanics are the fastest growing minority in the US. Plus, Vegas is a tourist area and Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the world.

Learning it is a good move.

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[Katiedoc]

The LEO Spanglish is probably best, not many people will be speaking Castillian Spanish on the streets. Here in San Diego, we are a big border town, plenty of Spanglish going on.

Kate

[mac90]

No le intentes, hombre.

[shooter1201]

I work in a town of approximately 5,000. We have a growing Latino population, so my high school-era Spanish is getting a workout. Just the other night, I pulled over a car for no lights(approximately 2100HRS). NO one in the car spoke English. What SHOULD have been a 2-3 minute stop, turned into almost 20 minutes.

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HEARTS and MINDS

[Jim Burnes]

Mis Amigos,

A menos que usted hable un todos los dias pequeno del espanol, usted tendra un prblema cuando el tiempo viene a usarlo realmente.



Jim Burnes

[shooter1201]

My friends,

Unless you speak it(Spanish) all the time, you will have problems when it is really needed. (???)

[DesertRat]

Originally posted by PatrickM98:
DR,

How large is the Spanish speaking population in Vegas?

Huge. In the school system, Hispanics are the majority now. The neighborhood I work when my squad covers the east side of the valley is almost exclusively hispanic. There are some shifts when I may contact 5-6 non english speakers. I will get plenty of opportunities to practice I'm assuming.

[Don]

Good luck on your school on this DR. I tried three times to take "Conversational Spanish" (translated as "Border Mexican") and each time got about two weeks into the school and had my schedule change so I couldn't continue it. I picked up some of the street lingo, but not enough to be very effective.

And as Jim Burnes said, (more or less) use it or lose it. I've lost what little I had.

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I used to have an open mind - but my brains kept falling out.

6P1 (retired)

[Jim Burnes]

Shooter took the wind from my sails!
Baaawwwwlllll!

On a serious note, all working LEO really do need to have a working knowledge of a second language.

This would include knowledge of American Sign Language (ASI).

Jim Burnes

[shooter1201]

READING it(Spanish) and translating it is MUCH easier than LISTENING to it and TRYING to translate it...LOL

There is a SUPERB Mexican restaurant in my town, which I frequent. It gives me the opportunity to practice my limited Spanish in a FRIENDLY environment.

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HEARTS and MINDS