Hesitation turned to pride as Salinas Police Officer Robert Hernandez chatted with rodeo patrons, often conversing in Spanish with Latino visitors.
said the Salinas Police Department, despite being 41% Latino, lacked transparency and community engagement. The Justice Department recommended Salinas police be better trained in community relations.
“That was my goal, to say, ‘Hey, don’t be scared. We’re not immigration [officials],’ ” he said. “I was happy the public was able to understand that.”At the rodeo, Hernandez exchanged stories with visitors of their own memories of Mexico and their experiences with charros. Several immigrants told Hernandez — whose own parents didn’t have legal status in the U.S. for a time — they felt safer after seeing him.
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