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WOODLAND, N.C. — Woodland Police Chief Don Ryan would not think of going on patrol without his badge, his gun and his translator.
Ryan found the device on the Internet that breaks the language barrier. He speaks his command in English and the device answers in Spanish. The messages can be prerecorded. Ryan has included the entire wording of the Miranda rights.
Ryan believes he is the first police officer in the state to use the electronic translator. The translator cost him close to $1,000.
It was paid for with a state grant designed to improve communication between the English- and Spanish-speaking communities.
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