Kannapolis police bridge language barrier in community with bilingual officers

The Kannapolis Police Department is celebrating two of its officers and their culture for National Hispanic Heritage Month.

The two bilingual officers, Tony Ramierz and Gasper Ruiz, who work opposite shifts, are available to help with calls that require translations.

“When I see someone that is either nervous or is doesn’t want to come forward to police, they see me and they’re like, ‘Oh, he speaks Spanish. I feel more comfortable,’ which is really awesome,” Ramirez said.

About 16% of Kannapolis is Hispanic.

The power of being heard goes a long way.

“It’s really awesome to see someone having a terrible day and you being able to communicate with them can change that,” Ramirez said.

VIDEO: Hispanic Heritage Month: What you need to know

Hispanic Heritage Month: What you need to know The U.S. Hispanic population increased to 62.1 million in 2020, a growth of 23% over the previous decade.

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