Census figures show that a disproportionate number of Hispanics are younger than 18. Law enforcement officers must meet education requirements. The Pinellas and Hillsborough sheriff's offices require high school diplomas. St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa require 60 college credit hours. Largo requires a four-year degree.
Bilingual officers are much in demand.
Police departments keep lists of employees who speak second languages. For the police, communication breakdowns aren't merely inconvenient. In tense situations, they can be dangerous. That person keeps moving forward or does not take their hands out of their pockets. It can escalate quite rapidly.