Policy Text
Procedure
335Garden Grove Police Department
Procedures Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/06/27, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentLimited English Proficiency Services
Procedures - 1Limited English Proficiency Services Procedures
335.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This procedure will provide effective guidelines, consistent with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, for departmental personnel
to follow when providing services to, or interacting with, individuals who are limited English
proficiency (LEP).
335.2 ACCESSING INTERPRETATION SERVICES
When a 9-1-1 call-taker receives a call and determines that the caller is LEP, the call-taker shall
inform the LEP caller that he or she will be placed "on hold." If the language is known, the call taker
shall immediately survey the Radio Room for an available and appropriate department interpreter
to respond. If an interpreter is available, the original call-taker will immediately transfer the LEP
caller to the interpreter. The interpreter shall follow the standard operating procedures for all 9-1-1
calls.
If no available and appropriate interpreters are present, the call-taker will contact the contracted
telephonic interpretation service directly via speed-dial.
Once a three-way call is established between the call-taker, the LEP caller, and the interpreter,
the call-taker shall follow the standard operating procedures used for all 9-1-1 calls.
NOTE: The call-taker will note in information sent to dispatch that the 9-1-1 caller is an LEP
individual and indicate the language so that this information is provided to responding personnel.
Dispatchers will make every effort to dispatch a bilingual officer to the assignment, if available.
Department Personnel Requesting Interpretation Services:
Responding Personnel Responsibilities: Department personnel in the field in need of interpretation
services will attempt to identify the LEP individual's primary language through the use of the
language identification card/pamphlet (I speak…) and follow the instructions Communications
has placed in the pamphlets. If there is a department interpreter in the field who speaks the
language identified, that person can be requested directly or through Communications. A list of
department interpreters is available on the department's intranet. If a department interpreter is
not available to provide interpretation, the responding personnel should contact the telephonic
interpreter Language Line for interpretation, either by calling Language Line directly or contacting
Communications. The current Language Line service number is (800) 874-9426. You will be
prompted by the service and a live attendant will assist you. They will ask for our client identification
number, which is Client ID# 101107. An interpreter will be contacted.
Exigent Circumstances:
Department personnel are expected to follow the general procedures outlined in this Directive;
however exigent circumstances may require some deviations. In such situations, personnel are
to use the most reliable, temporary interpreter available, such as bilingual department personnel.
Examples may include the need to obtain descriptive information on a fleeing suspect or
Garden Grove Police Department
Procedures Manual
Limited English Proficiency Services Procedures
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/06/27, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentLimited English Proficiency Services
Procedures - 2identifying information of an injured person. However, once an exigency has passed, all personnel
are expected to revert to the general procedures in this Directive.
Family, Friends, and Bystanders:
In other than exigent circumstances, personnel should only use family, friends or bystanders for
interpreting in very informal, non-confrontational contexts, and only to obtain basic information at
the request of the LEP individual. Using family, friends, or bystanders to interpret could result in
a breach of confidentiality, a conflict of interest, or an inadequate interpretation. Barring exigent
circumstances, personnel should not use minor children to provide interpreter services.
Additional Interpretation Services:
The Orange County Chiefs of Police and Sheriff's Association have an inter-city assistance
plan (mutual aid) that outlines the assistance and cooperation provided during police incidents
(Operational & Procedural protocol #102). The services provided are on an as-needed basis. In
accordance with this protocol, under certain circumstances, department personnel may obtain
interpretation from qualified bilingual employees from other Orange County law enforcement
agencies. Examples of when this protocol could be used to obtain language assistance services
include: when a department or City interpreter is not available and/or telephonic interpretation is
not practical, such as during an interview or interrogation taking place some distance outside the
city. Additionally, when interviews are conducted at CAST, they provide an appropriate interpreter
from their network.
Personnel who believe they need this service will consult with the highest-ranking supervisor
or manager on duty. If the supervisor or manager concurs, the supervisor will contact
communications and make the request. The requestor should provide the investigative officer's
name, badge number, phone number, and exact location where the interpreter is expected (i.e.,
the numerical address with room or floor numbers, not just "Homicide" or "East Division"). The
use of this service will be noted on the 24-hour resume.
Communications Supervisor Responsibilities:
The Communications Supervisor will contact the appropriate agency for the requested interpreter
service, and relay all information to them. The supervisor will obtain an estimated time of arrival
(ETA) for the interpreter before ending the call and notify the officer/investigator. The in-person
interpreter should be on location no more than two hours from the time of