Officer uses ASL to help deaf woman communicate with DMV employees
After a DMV called Black woman a 'disturbance,' cop shows defuses situation and assists with his ASL training
A California highway patrol officer is being commended for responding to a disturbance call and turning it into a way to help a disabled woman.
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A California highway patrol officer is being commended for responding to a disturbance call and turning it into a way to help a disabled woman.
Workers at a DMV office in Los Angeles, located on Hope Street, called police to report a disturbance but when Officer Rodriguez arrived, he realized this was no disturbance at all – the woman was simply frustrated because no one at the location could understand her attempts to use sign language, according to The Sacramento Bee.
READ MORE: N.C. police kill unarmed deaf man who was trying to communicate with sign language after car chase
Rodriguez sprang into action, using American Sign Language to help the woman communicate with employees, according to the California Highway Patrol’s Central Los Angeles office, which shared a video of the encounter on their Twitter page on Tuesday.
CHP Central LA received a disturbance call at the Hope St. DMV. Officer Rodriguez realized the call was simply due to a language barrier.Using ASL, he helped the party apply for a CA ID. He also covered the cost when she came up short for the fee. @ABC7 @KTLA @NBCLA @KCBSKCALDesk pic.twitter.com/1UtKiB5vQR
— CHP Central LA (@CHPCentralLA) December 10, 2019
“CHP Central LA received a disturbance call at the Hope St. DMV. Officer Rodriguez realized the call was simply due to a language barrier. Using ASL, he helped the party apply for a CA ID. He also covered the cost when she came up short for the fee,” the caption of the video read.
Nearly 2,500 people have liked the video and it has been retweeted almost 600 times.
“How can I like this 100x more? This is the type of policing we know happens every single day and yet not enough ppl give props when it’s due. Good job Ofc Rodriguez!” Elvi Flores (@CodeElvi) said on Twitter.
How can I like this 100x more? This is the type of policing we know happens every single day and yet not enough ppl give props when it’s due. Good job Ofc Rodriguez!
— Elvi Flores (@CodeElvi) December 10, 2019
“Thats beautiful to watch! Great job Officer Rodriguez! Humanity at its best!” added @simonrjara.
Thats beautiful to watch! Great job Officer Rodriguez! Humanity at its best! #placachingon
— simon Jara (@simonrjara) December 10, 2019
CHP Officer Robert Gomez called Rodriguez’s handling of the situation “excellent” and “above and beyond,” reported KTLA 5.
However, many other people were appalled that the DMV would call the police and report a language barrier as a disturbance.
“DMV calling cops on people because of language barrier is racism!!!!” tweeted Francisco Lozano (@FrancisLozano7)
Thats beautiful to watch! Great job Officer Rodriguez! Humanity at its best! #placachingon
— simon Jara (@simonrjara) December 10, 2019
READ MORE: ‘Queer Eye’ co-host Karamo Brown advocates for deaf and hard of hearing viewers
“So you’re telling me the @CA_DMV didn’t have a pen and paper so they could communicate with this person, and thought the best way to handle it was to call LE. Come on @CA_DMV” wrote a user who goes by the Twitter name Captain Caveman.
So you’re telling me the @CA_DMV didn’t have a pen and paper so they could communicate with this person, and thought the best way to handle it was to call LE. Come on @CA_DMV
— Captain Caveman (@74DavidL) December 10, 2019
Glad to see this one had a happy ending.
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