{"id":37438,"date":"2018-03-29T16:20:44","date_gmt":"2018-03-29T21:20:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=37438"},"modified":"2018-03-29T16:20:44","modified_gmt":"2018-03-29T21:20:44","slug":"a-police-department-in-texas-just-hired-its-first-ever-deaf-female-officer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2018\/03\/29\/a-police-department-in-texas-just-hired-its-first-ever-deaf-female-officer\/","title":{"rendered":"A police department in Texas just hired its first ever deaf female officer"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A police department in Texas just hired its first ever deaf female officer<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Drew Powell<\/p>\n

March 26, 2018<\/p>\n

DALHART, Texas (KVII) \u2014 The newest member of the Dalhart Police Department is helping the department make history. When police chief David Conner hired 25-year old Erica Trevino, she became the first female deaf commissioned police officer hired to work at the department and is believed to be the first in the state of Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a passion of mine,\u201d said Erica Trevino, newly hired police officer at Dalhart P.D. \u201cIt\u2019s not something I just want, it\u2019s something God has called me to do. That\u2019s what I believe. This truly is a career and I can\u2019t tell you how much I look up to the people and I respect how much work the officers put into becoming a police officer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trevino tells ABC 7 News she is fluent in four sign languages and can communicate in ways most officers can\u2019t when someone is in distress or needs help.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith officer Trevino being here that\u2019s going to be tremendous asset for those who are hard of hearing or deaf,\u201d said David Conner, Dalhart Police Chief. \u201cShe will be able to communicate and assist us in that realm as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Day to day communications can be a challenge for deaf people. Overcoming challenges is something she has conquered since being deaf. She graduated from Caprock H.S. then went to West Texas A&M University before graduating third in her class at the police academy at Amarillo College.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not going to be easy, I know that,\u201d said Trevino. \u201cI\u2019m preparing to put in the work and get to where I need to be. I want to be the best officer I can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it going to be a challenge for her and us? Yes, there\u2019s no doubt,\u201d said Conner. \u201cThrough all the obstacles she\u2019s had to face in life and all the times she\u2019s been told now she can\u2019t do something she has succeeded. Who am I to say she can\u2019t do this? There\u2019s no doubt she can do it and she is qualified.”<\/p>\n

She reports for duty on April 14. The first six months on the job she will be partnered with a field training officer and work the night shift. Her goal is to work in Criminal Investigations Division after she climbs up the ranks at the department.<\/p>\n

SOURCE:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/abc7amarillo.com\/news\/local\/dalhart-police-department-hires-deaf-female-officer<\/a><\/p>\n

See interview video by Texas Association of the Deaf at Facebook<\/p>\n