PAWLING - The Dut-chess County Sheriff's Office will continue to hold outreach meetings with the local Hispanic community every second Wednesday of the month for the rest of the year at Pawling Elementary School. Wednesday was the second of the series.
The program has been successful since its inception in March, when about 40 people from the area attended, including about 25 Hispanics.
The meetings, which aim to educate immigrants on their rights and resources, are a collaborative effort between the sheriff's office, the Pawling Central School District and AHORA (Association for Hispanics to Obtain Resources and Assistance). The program is the brainchild of Deputy Edwin Ramirez Jr.
"Our main focus of the program is to gain a repartee and the trust of the Hispanic community," Ramirez said, adding some in the community fear deportation. "We want them to report crimes, whether they're victims or witnesses."
Rapes raised concerns
The possibility of holding the meetings was first addressed after the rapes in Pawling. Flaviano Quintero, 24, who was arrested in Flint, Mich., is accused of raping two women on Nov. 28 and Dec. 6. Knowing the suspect was Hispanic, Pawling residents started calling the police, asking for some Hispanic outreach.
Men, women and children attended the meeting Wednesday and were asked check off some personal concerns, such as speaking to a teacher about a child who has a problem. Alice Mann, community program manager for the
MediationCenter of Dutchess County, handed out markers for the exercise, while fellow community program manager Bill Valente translated instructions.
Also present were representatives armed with pamphlets from the Dutchess County Department of Health, Hudson Health Plan, AHORA and the
Mediation Center . There were even educational "Capitano Bio" comics for the children.
"We want to develop these relationships," sheriff's De-puty T.J. Hanlon said. "We don't want people to be afraid to contact us if they need help."
Reach Christine Pizzuti at cpizzuti@poughkeepsiejournal.com or 845-437-4882.