Bilingual Vail dispatcher looks to take the fear, frustration out of calling 911
Article CAIRCO note:
From article: first came to Eagle County illegally.
Article publisher:
Vail Daily
Article date:
22 February 2019
Article category:
Colorado News
Medium
Article Body:
Fernando Almanza knows the fear people feel when they call him on 911 at the Vail Public Safety Communications center. It's the same fear he's felt as a victim of domestic violence and someone who first came to Eagle County illegally.
Now a legal resident, Almanza, 27, is the only certified bilingual dispatcher at the Vail facility ....
Originally from the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, Almanza first came to the Vail Valley at age 11, crossing into New Mexico from Puerto Palomas on a harrowing 15-hour desert hike.
"There’s always the fear of immigration [agents] showing up at your home if you know you’re here illegally. Regardless of whether Trump is here, or whether it's Obama or Bush, or whoever the president is," Almanza said ...