Fort Worth P.D. Reaches Out To Deaf Community
By Andrea Lucia, CBS 11 News
November 13, 2010
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Christopher Ferrell only wanted to communicate
with the police officer who pulled him over for speeding. But, when Ferrell
didn’t respond to commands, the officer jerked him out of his car and
slammed him against its back window.
The officer seemed oblivious to Ferrell’s message – that he was deaf.
Ferrell ended up with a broken nose that night in November of 2007 and,
later, a $50,000 settlement from the City of Fort Worth.
“We have a lot of problems with the police department not communicating with
deaf people,” said Norma Castillo, through an interpreter.
An advocate from the Deaf Action Center, Castillo said the deaf are often
intimidated by police.
“They look at them as having discrimination,” she said.
The Fort Worth Police Department is trying to change that perception.
On Saturday, it held its first ever community forum for the deaf and hard of
hearing, trying to promote education on each side.
“We know there are areas of improvement,” said Chief Jeffrey Halstead.
Officers are now being taught to read a person’s body language for signs
indicating they might not be able to hear.
They’re also learning to use basic sign language during emergencies.
Seventeen-year-old Cathy Ayala is happy for the opportunity to learn from
police as well, so she knows how to avoid any confusion.
“I think it’s really worth it that we came. I do,” she said, through an
interpreter.
Source:
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2010/11/13/fort-worth-p-d-reaches-out-to-deaf-community