Members of the Demopolis Police Department gained a valuable resource last week when the department hosted a class to help officers learn “Survival Spanish.”

The class, offered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee and the U.S. Border Patrol, helps law enforcement alleviate the language barrier between officers and Spanish-speaking people they encounter.

“This is the second time we’ve hosted this class,” said DPD Chief Tommie Reese. “There are more Spanish-speaking people coming to our area, not only to live, but just traveling through, so it’s important for our officers to be able to communicate if necessary.”

Reese said two members of the Demopolis Police Department participated in the class last week, along with officers from the Thomasville Police Department, Selma Police Department, Marengo County Sheriff’s Office, Tuscaloosa Police Department and Butler Police Department.

Hector Torres and Richard Silva, Border Patrol agents out of the Mobile office, taught the class.

“There’s an increasing Spanish-speaking population in the United States, which means there’s an increased chance to encounter a Spanish-speaking person during a routine traffic stop,” Torres said. “Officers need to be prepared to handle that type of a situation.”

Silva said the class comes down to safety.

“We’re here to introduce basic skills to enable officers to communicate and do their job in a safe manner,” Silva said. “We always get feedback, whether it’s a week or a few months following the class, that the class was useful.”