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over-coming the language barrier

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Posted by: SPD007

i find myself stopping more and more brazilian drivers with those b/s licences. as soon as they realize i'm not letting them go, they start the "no hablo" stuff. so i started running radar near a dunkin' donuts (with several brazilian employees). after i call for a duty wrecker, i bring them inside and the employees are more than willing to translate what a "summons to court" means.


Posted by: Zuke

I am guessing you are in the Metro-west area. I don't know how any cop could do anything out here without knowing Portuguese. The soccer loving population is enormous. Start bugging the brass for language classes.
Hang in there.


Posted by: marlboroughpd

I love how Zuke refers to them as the soccer loving population. They pull that a lot in Marlborough with parking violations. All you need to say is that their vehicle is getting towed and all of a sudden a miracle happens and they start speaking perfect English.


Posted by: Zuke

I should open a soccer equipment store in these parts I would be rich. :P


Posted by: 2-Delta

Funny....my ASP is fluent in all languages.


Posted by: Doughnut33

Shout and speak slower--everyone will understand you.


Posted by: stm4710

Flash bang.......


Posted by: dcs2244

Hey Doughnut, that was my sergeant's way of communicating with deaf kids!

Seriously, this time of year the guardrail is the clue: a few minutes sitting on the cold GR renders fluency in English! Also, the scumbags don't wear their coats in the car or the club...cause it's not "cool" (kinda like rubbers or boots when you were in school!). They always used to ask for their coats: negative...I work in shirt-sleeves, it's-no-colder-for-you-than-it-is-for-me! When it's warm, front-leaning-rest in the BDL works as well!

By the way young troopers: your issued jackets are ugly and suck...don't wear them (unless you have to be out of the car for a long time...that is, a collision...not a stop or even an OUI arrest)!

Remember...it's not whether you win or lose...it's how good you look!


Posted by: frapmpd24

Quote:
Originally Posted by dcs2244";p=&quot View Post
Hey Doughnut, that was my sergeant's way of communicating with deaf kids!

Seriously, this time of year the guardrail is the clue: a few minutes sitting on the cold GR renders fluency in English! Also, the scumbags don't wear their coats in the car or the club...cause it's not "cool" (kinda like rubbers or boots when you were in school!). They always used to ask for their coats: negative...I work in shirt-sleeves, it's-no-colder-for-you-than-it-is-for-me! When it's warm, front-leaning-rest in the BDL works as well!

By the way young troopers: your issued jackets are ugly and suck...don't wear them (unless you have to be out of the car for a long time...that is, a collision...not a stop or even an OUI arrest)!

Remember...it's not whether you win or lose...it's how good you look!
DCS, again you have some of the best advice on the site. I like the guardrail approach. I'll have see if that assists with communication problem. It is always comical when the words arrest are said or cuffs are shown, wala...instant english.


Posted by: Deuce

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2-Delta";p=&quot View Post
Funny....my ASP is fluent in all languages.
Reminds me of the oldie but goodie analogy about a pool game and the escalation of force used on an object resulting in an increase of english... Truer words have never been spoken...

Ever try to translate a domestic between 2 deaf/mutes that only understand spanish?


Posted by: Doughnut33

Two deaf - mutes that only understand Spanish?

Aha, my strategy becomes twice...no four times as effective...


Posted by: EOD1

my whole dept used to eat a the local greasy spoon for free and most were Friends with the owner (my mom and my wife- not the same person either smart asses- used to work there) well anyway... there was alot of Brazilian cooks and dishwashers and when we used to get the illegal Brazilians we used to run up there and "borrow" a dishwasher.


Posted by: truthbetold

there is a gang officer in worcester mass that has a book published for officers that helps break the communication barrier. I have seen the book. It is a street book for the patrolman. Very insightful. I will have to look back and find the name of the book and author.


Posted by: Gil

As soon as I see one of those bullshit international ID's from the driver the cuffs come out (provided it's not balls to the wall) 9 times out of 10 it's an arrest and the usual 90-10, 90-9, 90-34J!

After booking it a quick stop at livescan to see who the idiot really is


Posted by: USMCTrooper

GIL is a cop's cop! Keep up that attitude!!!

I have those new I.C.E numbers for the eastern Mass. area if anyone wants to PM me for them. Also if anyone is interested, here are some major busts made by I.C.E. posted today

http://www.ice.gov/graphics/index.htm


I also saw an ad yesterday in a Police Equipment magazine (can't remember the name but its the size of a road atlas!) for an electronic translator. Something like over 12 different languages.


Posted by: Deuce

Quote:
Originally Posted by truthbetold";p=&quot View Post
there is a gang officer in worcester mass that has a book published for officers that helps break the communication barrier. I have seen the book. It is a street book for the patrolman. Very insightful. I will have to look back and find the name of the book and author.
That would be Miguel Lopez and I think it's 'Spanish for the street cop'. Honestly, there's only a few spanish words you need to know. (spelling and grammar doesn't apply)

donde vive?
como se llamo?
cay(ll?)ate la boca (shut your mouth)
sietese (sit)

Last 2 are the most handy I think.....


Posted by: kttref

Quote:
Originally Posted by Deuce";p=&quot View Post
donde vive?
como se llamo?
cay(ll?)ate la boca (shut your mouth)
sietese (sit)

Last 2 are the most handy I think.....


Hey, real quick...the last 2 can be said more forcefully. The way you're saying it, it's almost like a request, try these instead (I'll do it phonetically...SP?)


KAI-EH-TE (basically it means shut up)

SEE-ET-TEH-TE (sit down, but more focefully).


Hope this helps.






A man my husband works with said he knew how to speak spanish...went in to question the guy they arrested and screamed (in english): DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE NAME?

I mean I'm no fluent spanish speaker, but even I know that's wrong!


Posted by: truthbetold

Duece yes that is his name thank you. The book is great. If you have a hard time with spanish you should get it. Is brazilian much differnt from spanish? I am only asking this because I dont know. Not because I am ignorant.


Posted by: kttref

Quote:
Originally Posted by truthbetold";p=&quot View Post
Duece yes that is his name thank you. The book is great. If you have a hard time with spanish you should get it. Is brazilian much differnt from spanish? I am only asking this because I dont know. Not because I am ignorant.

In Brazil they speak Portugese...way different then spanish.


Posted by: MSP75

The Brazilians and other nonresidents seem to know some english when they are at the RMV registering their cars under their "X" number. I love the days I get stuck giving road tests and I have time to witness this foolishness that the RMV allows. As long as they get the MONEY.


Posted by: FRPDConstable

If you are on a call where their is a language barrier and there is not officer that speaks that language i would suggest the following it works well. Have the officer on scene call 911 from the house phone and ask your dispatcher to transfer to the language line. this is a free service provided by AT@T. just have the translator talk to complaintent and the dispatcher can relay what the interpreter says.


Posted by: marlboroughpd

Any tips on over-coming the language barrier in Chinatown?


Posted by: USMCMP5811

Quote:
Originally Posted by marlboroughpd";p=&quot View Post
Any tips on over-coming the language barrier in Chinatown?
For the Chineese or the Deer there?


Posted by: marlboroughpd

The people that work in the markets. I have never known of any deer in chinatown, dead or alive. If there was a live deer you would certainly know it because all the asians would be running down the street with clevers raised above their heads.


Posted by: Jasper

many, many Brazilians down this way. most have two jobs and are law abiding and respectful. reason many have no massachusetts drivers license is that they do not have a social security number yet. we seldom respond to disturbances involving Brazilians. they are rarely parasites on welfare and it is seldom that they give police a hassle. too bad more native born Americans do not share their work ethics. A simple change in law would allow legal immigrants to get a valid license so they can get a license and drive to work to earn a living. Most without a valid license are simply driving to work and are not thumbing their nose at the law - they are trying to survive and many are simply unaware that there is a specified time that they must get a massachusetts license. not the crime of the century . many simply do not understand. i do not make excuses for those that understand our laws and disregard them.


Posted by: E_Javi2

Learn a second language!


Posted by: marlboroughpd

That is how you would look at brazilians in marlborough until we got a wild batch move into the city. This batch was causing all kinds of mayhem. I guess the bad batch pushed the good bunch we had before because it seems like you cant find a brazilian around town that doesnt think they are better than everyone else.

The day after Christmas we (the family) were making a trip into Boston. Before we left town, my dad had to go to the bank and cash a check. Driving in downtown on our way to the bank, a brazilian female basically double parks out in front of this store to pick her friend up. My dad decides that since we are in Marlborough, his jurisdiction although off-duty, he would say something. So he pulls up and says "you cant double park here". She says "Im not double parking." He says back to her "yeah, you are clearly double parking." After he said that she snapped right back and said "hey, why dont you go take care of your business." After that he whipped out his badge in his wallet and told her "I show you taking care of my business lady, Marlborough Police." She changed her tune real quick after that and said "well, im just here to pick up my friend." My dad felt he held up traffic enough so he took off and went to the bank then Boston. So from now on, no breaks will be given by him to brazilians while he is on-duty. The brazilians we got here suck, they all obsess over soccer and think they are better than everyone else and all move around like a pack of wolves. You're lucky you got a good bunch where you are.


Posted by: fscpd907

Marlborough Citizen

You have some major problems


Posted by: Gil

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jasper";p=&quot View Post
not the crime of the century . many simply do not understand. i do not make excuses for those that understand our laws and disregard them.
If I went to a country were my lack of understanding could cause me to be arrested I would take the time and learn what I needed to. Once there car gets hooked and they get cuffed I am sure it will seem much clearer to them as to what they need to do so they don't end up giving their hard earned cash over to the Commonwealth of Mass and the local towing company. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse!


Posted by: Gil

Quote:
Originally Posted by fscpd907";p=&quot View Post
Marlborough Citizen
You have some major problems


That's it! one Brazilian was rude to me so the rest of them are getting porked..... open mouth insert foot. On a side note I think your dad would have received the same response from 90% of citizens in town. Lets see a civilian vehicle with a guy and his family telling someone else the law. She didn't know him from Adam why do you think she would show him any respect?



Why did you add Sgt. stripes to your avatar and just how old are you anyway?


Posted by: marlboroughpd

Its like a classroom full of kids, one student opens their mouth and pisses the teacher off, the whole class gets screwed. Its the same idea. I am sure a lot of POs are sick and tired of putting up with the BS these illegal imigrants are giving them. Just a reminder, the POs are out there doing it, not me. I think we should move on because there was no language barrier with this brazilian, after all that is what is thread was dedicated to.

No excuses for breaking the law.

1. If you understand them and break them anyway, I think there should be hell to pay for that person so they will think twice about doing it again.

2. If you dont understand, make them face the consequences so they wont do it again. Then they will have understood what the law is and then they fall into the first category and should be treated accordingly.


Posted by: stm4710

Quote:
Originally Posted by USMCMP5811";p=&quot View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by marlboroughpd";p=&quot View Post
Any tips on over-coming the language barrier in Chinatown?
For the Chineese or the Deer there?
Quote:
"I show you taking care of my business lady, Marlborough Police."
ROFLMAO
Gee whiz, he has to be insane.....you cant make this stuff up.

But at BEMA, when we do a transport they usally have a family member that speak for what passes of english with them.


Posted by: marlboroughpd

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil";p=&quot View Post
Why did you add Sgt. stripes to your avatar
I was promoted to MassCops Sergeant so I just felt like adding the stripes in the corner because I got bored.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil";p=&quot View Post
On a side note I think your dad would have received the same response from 90% of citizens in town. Lets see a civilian vehicle with a guy and his family telling someone else the law. She didn't know him from Adam why do you think she would show him any respect?
Usually someone off the streets wouldnt come up to you telling you the law unless he/she were a PO, usually someone that doesnt have the authority doesnt say anything, if anyone decided they would say something they would roll their window and start cussing at them and take off or just give you a dirty look. That is the way I see it, if anyone started giving me any crap, I would assume they are a PO because they probably have something to back up their words and wouldnt want to push my luck with them. But I respect and follow every law that I am aware of, I even give my relatives crap if they arent exactly following the law.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil";p=&quot View Post
just how old are you anyway?
Not old enough to be a PO. So yes I am under 18, I guess you have to be 19 to be able to take the test for Marlborough.


Posted by: Gil

Quote:
Originally Posted by marlboroughpd";p=&quot View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil";p=&quot View Post
Why did you add Sgt. stripes to your avatar
I was promoted to MassCops Sergeant so I just felt like adding the stripes in the corner because I got bored.
I have to figure out a script so that only sensible posts get counted toward membership rankings...

and your age? a simple under 18 or over 18 will surfice...


Posted by: Deuce

Quote:
Originally Posted by marlboroughpd";p=&quot View Post
That is how you would look at brazilians in marlborough until we got a wild batch move into the city. This batch was causing all kinds of mayhem. I guess the bad batch pushed the good bunch we had before because it seems like you cant find a brazilian around town that doesnt think they are better than everyone else.

The day after Christmas we (the family) were making a trip into Boston. Before we left town, my dad had to go to the bank and cash a check. Driving in downtown on our way to the bank, a brazilian female basically double parks out in front of this store to pick her friend up. My dad decides that since we are in Marlborough, his jurisdiction although off-duty, he would say something. So he pulls up and says "you cant double park here". She says "Im not double parking." He says back to her "yeah, you are clearly double parking." After he said that she snapped right back and said "hey, why dont you go take care of your business." After that he whipped out his badge in his wallet and told her "I show you taking care of my business lady, Marlborough Police." She changed her tune real quick after that and said "well, im just here to pick up my friend." My dad felt he held up traffic enough so he took off and went to the bank then Boston. So from now on, no breaks will be given by him to brazilians while he is on-duty. The brazilians we got here suck, they all obsess over soccer and think they are better than everyone else and all move around like a pack of wolves. You're lucky you got a good bunch where you are.
Looks like the apple didn't fall far from the tree...

Hey "sarge" tell dad to be extra careful, Marlboro sounds like one crazy ass town...


Posted by: stm4710

Quote:
I even give my relatives crap if they arent exactly following the law.
Thats it grandma, you J walked.....5 years in the joint.

Quote:
But I respect and follow every law that I am aware of
Accept game laws.
Wiseman once say " Better to be thought a fool than to post on masscops and remove all doubt"

Anywho, here are some common phrases you might want to pen down for when you run into these sitatuions. P is portguese, S is spanish.

You are under arrest:
P...Você está sob a apreensão
S....Usted está bajo detención

You have the right to remain silent anything you say can and will used agaist you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney before questioning, if you can not afford one, one will be apointed to you at no cost. You may stop answering questions at any time. Do you understand these rights:

P... Você tem a direita remanescer silencioso qualquer coisa que você diz pode e agaist usado você em uma corte de lei. Você tem a direita a um advogado antes, se você não puder ter recursos para um, de questionar será apointed a você em nenhum custo. Você pode parar de responder a perguntas em em qualquer altura que. Você compreende estas direitas.
S...Usted tiene la derecha de seguir siendo silencioso cualquier cosa que usted dice puede y agaist usado usted en una corte de la ley. Usted tiene la derecha a un abogado antes, si usted no puede permitirse uno, el preguntar será apointed a usted en ningún coste. Usted puede parar el contestar de preguntas en cualquier momento. Usted entiende las estas derechas.

License and registration please:
P...Licença e registo por favor
S...Licencia y registro por favor

Were you drinking?
P... Você estava bebendo?
S... ¿Usted bebía?

Where are you comeing from and where are you going?
P...De onde você comeing e aonde você está indo?
S... ¿De dónde usted comeing y adónde usted va?

Do you have any warrents, have you ever been arrested before?
P...Você tem algum warrents, você tem sido prendido sempre antes?
S...¿Usted tiene warrents, usted se ha arrestado siempre antes?



If anyone needs more postem here or PM me.


Posted by: Gil

Ok now that this has gone completely off topic I am gonna shut it down.

marlboroughpd your status has been changed the board has an age requirement of 18, you again mis represented yourself when you registered and clicked on the "over 18" link on the agreement page. shame shame

You are a perfect example of why the state wants and needs to raise the age limit for po's




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