Thread: City Sued: Didn't Teach Cop Spanish

INVASION USA
City Sued: Didn't Teach Cop Spanish
Attorney seeking over $1 million says officer who assaulted Hispanic couldn't communicate

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Posted: September 30, 2006
6:00 p.m. Eastern



© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com


An attorney for a Hispanic man who was allegedly knocked to the ground and kicked by a police officer is seeking over $1 million dollars for his client, arguing that the city's failure to teach law enforcement officers "fundamental Spanish" is the reason excessive force was used.

According to the suit filed in a Hunt County, Texas, district court on Wednesday, Jose Lopez was assaulted at a football game in 2004 by a Royse City police officer who allegedly knocked him to the ground and kicked him in the knee and face while wearing steel-toed boots.


Domingo Garcia

Dallas attorney Domingo Garcia argues in his filing that the city was negligent for not monitoring and training the unnamed officer – specifically, for not training him to speak Spanish "in order to properly communicate with Spanish-speaking persons."

Chief Tom Shelton told the Greenville Herald-Banner he was unable to discuss the specifics of the alleged incident but that the lawsuit was without merit and that he was standing behind the officer.

"There's really not going to be much to it," he said. "To me, it is pretty much a frivolous lawsuit."

"I feel very confident the officer did everything he was supposed to do and he was supported by several witnesses," Shelton added.

Garcia, a former Texas legislator, ex-mayor pro tem for the city of Dallas, and national civil rights chairman for the League of United Latin American Citizens, the nation’s oldest Latino civil rights organization, has filed a similar suit against the city of Irving, Texas.

In that suit, Domingo charges that an Irving police officer, who was cleared of all charged associated with the pepper-spraying and baton beating of Jose Palomino, an illegal alien who refused his orders to lay on the ground, was forced to use such tactics because he could not communicate in Spanish.

The plaintiff in the suit said he had been coming to the U.S. to work for 23 years but did not understand what the officer meant when he repeatedly said, "Down! Down! Down!"

"The officer's defense was that he wasn't trained by the Irving police department on how to subdue a suspect without using a baton," Garcia told KILF radio talk-show host Greg Knapp. "And second, that the only phrase he knew in Spanish was, 'Manos aqui'.

"That's why Mr. Palomino was subjected to the beating and the macing," he said. "A police officer, like any public servant or anybody in the private sector, has to cater to the language of the market."

Garcia called Knapp's use of the term "illegal alien" in reference to his client a "racial slur," likening it to "calling people <<the N word>>!"

The suit against Royce City is seeking $1 million in exemplary damages, $3,000 in medical expenses, $150,000 in damages for pain and suffering and $25,000 for lost wages, as well as an apology from the police officer.

Source

What a jackass idiot this lawyer is! And this guy was an elected official? I can sure see why he isn't in office any longer.

Oh, btw, here's his email address: garciadtx@aol.com

This borders (pun intended) on the ridiculous. The "illegal alien" (an insult according to his attorneys) has been coming here for 23 years, and he Did Not Learn enough English to understand "down?" Again, this article just cements the idea that we ( Americans ) are being forced to learn Spanish to accommodate a growing number of illegal aliens who have absolutely no desire to become close to being American citizens. If the logic set forth by the attorney, then it will become imperative for all law enforcement agencies to have officers who speak Spanish, Manderin, Cantonese, Thai, Hindi and all other languages.

Originally Posted by Grandmom9

This borders (pun intended) on the ridiculous. The "illegal alien" (an insult according to his attorneys) has been coming here for 23 years, and he Did Not Learn enough English to understand "down?" Again, this article just cements the idea that we ( Americans ) are being forced to learn Spanish to accommodate a growing number of illegal aliens who have absolutely no desire to become close to being American citizens. If the logic set forth by the attorney, then it will become imperative for all law enforcement agencies to have officers who speak Spanish, Manderin, Cantonese, Thai, Hindi and all other languages.

Ah well... Maybe the next time this illegal alien is on the job and the foreman yells, "Get down!" as a concrete bucket swings toward his little noggin, the problem will be solved.

He's the civil rights director for LULAC, what do you expect from the racist POS!

god i really dislike this guy. He was the one who got in front of the Dallas mob and basically told them to take over construction, food service, hotel and other industries and to not stop.... he said it in english then in spanish.

I can't wait til he loses this one. Then that city should make English the official language.... will keep this from happening again.

If you've been here for a while and can't understand english...Come on! This whole situation is now in the " INSANE ZONE ." American Citizens are the ONLY ONE'S primarily subjected to the rules and regulations of this country. We get crapped on every day by Government Bull*hit. The problem IS NOT the ILLEGALS. The problem IS THE FAT CAT POLITICIANS who are not IN TOUCH with the people they supposedly represent.

Oh But must apologize. THE FAT CAT POLITICIANS are not out of touch with the people they supposedly represent.

I'm out of touch: I thought they represented ME !

Overhaul the system.
Speak Up.
Speak Loud.

WELCOME, POSTA!

LOL, enjoyed your 'accurate' vent

Jump in and join the fun

like any public servant or anybody in the private sector, has to cater to the language of the market."

Since friggin when? The language of the market is English you moron. We don't HAVE to cater to illegal invaders. I'd love just as a test, to dump a massive group of Klingon speaking people into "their" neighborhoods and schools as see how quickly they "cater" to the language.

Since friggin when? The language of the market is English you moron. We don't HAVE to cater to illegal invaders. I'd love just as a test, to dump a massive group of Klingon speaking people into "their" neighborhoods and schools as see how quickly they "cater" to the language

LOL! Rock on Crazy