HISPANIC SAFETY DAY INTRODUCES PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES
TO NEW RESIDENTS

Public safety agencies and private sector entities from across the Tampa Bay area will converge Sunday, September 9th to host Hispanic Safety Day (Dia de Seguridad Publico) for Clearwater's burgeoning Hispanic community.

The Sunday afternoon event at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, (820 Jasmine Way) at the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Druid Road, is open to the public, and is designed for children as well as adults.

Hosted by the Clearwater Police Department, the event - conducted in conjunction with Hispanic Mass - is intended to introduce to Hispanic residents the people, functions, services and capabilities of area agencies.

Crime Prevention Officers, bi-lingual Police Officers and civilian interpreters will coordinate their efforts with representatives of the participating agencies (the Pinellas County Health Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Morton Plant/Mease Hospital, the YWCA of Tampa Bay, City of Clearwater Police and Fire Departments, the city's Community Response Team and Neighborhood Services Division, and the Haven Domestic Violence Shelter) in reaching out to the Hispanic residents of Clearwater, many of whom are unfamiliar with available social and public safety services.

Spanish language radio station WAMA (AM 1550) will broadcast from the event, scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Bi-lingual civilians, hired and coordinated as part of the Clearwater Police Department's innovative Operation Apoyo Hispano program, will serve as interpreters, providing information about drug and alcohol abuse, crime prevention and safety issues, domestic violence, fire-proofing a home and the proper installation of a child safety seat.

Participating agencies will conduct demonstrations throughout the afternoon.

For additional details regarding Dia de Seguridad Publico, please contact Clearwater Police Officer Billy Farias at 727-562-4147.

/s/
SID KLEIN
Chief of Police