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Rosanna: “[From] ‘Police exchange men and ideas with Mexico department’ by Jeanne Hovanec Staff Writer: Carpentersville - Stop signs in Mexico look a lot like they do around here. But unlike in America, where stopping is mandatory, Mexicans look at the sign as an option to stop, explains police Officer Manny Figueroa. It’s a small cultural difference but one Figueroa and other members of his delegation took home with them in the five days they spent in Zacatecas, Mexico and Police exchange program offers valuable education: Belvidere and Boone County law enforcement personnel have an extraordinary opportunity to improve policing through an exchange program with a friendly city in Mexico. Local Hispanic business owners are eager to help. In fact, in McHenry County, local business owners and Hispanic groups footed most of the bill for a model program. The business people have paid for police officers from Zacatecas, Mexico, to spend time here observing how police agencies operate. In addition, the business owners have paid for McHenry County officers to travel to Zacatecas to see how policing is done there.
“They now approach our Latino community with much more compassion and understanding,” McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said about the officers who participated. The understanding is important, but so is getting new immigrants up to speed on laws of this land that may differ from back home.
“We need to educate our people to respect and follow the laws in this country,” said Javier Lara, an advocate for Hispanic residents of Boone County. Among the differences on opposite sides of the border:
“· In Mexico, it is not illegal for drivers to roll through stop signs if there is no traffic at or near the intersections. Police officers hand out tickets for that here.
· It is customary for Mexicans to avoid eye contact with officers as a show of respect and humility. It is not necessarily an indication that they are hiding something, as some American officers might suspect.
“The goal is to enhance understanding among local police so that they are more effective in both helping and policing the local Mexican immigrant population, which is growing at a rapid rate.
“In Boone County, the Hispanic population made up 6.8 percent of the county’s total population in 1990. The percentage had almost doubled to 12.4 percent in the year 2000, according to U.S. Census data. In real numbers, the Boone County Hispanic population grew from 2,065 in the 1990 Census to 5,219 in the 2000 Census, a jump of almost 153 percent.
“Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies estimates that Hispanics will make up 16 percent of Boone County’s population by 2015.
“Belvidere Police Chief Jan Noble hopes to go to Zacatecas next year to observe how police operate there. He will ask the City Council for money to help pay for the trip, which would be partially funded by Belvidere and Boone County Hispanic businesses and advocacy groups. Boone County Sheriff Duane Wirth is interested in the program but, he said, the county is strapped for funds and may not be able to afford it.
“Given the boom in the Hispanic population and the remarkable cooperation from the Hispanic business community, this program looks too good—and too useful—to pass up.”
