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OTTUMWA -- The Ottumwa Police Department's first bilingual officer continues to make advances in the Spanish-speaking community.

Officer Carlos Puente speaks fluent English and Spanish: the first officer to do so on staff.  Puente has been working on the force since the end of October 2011.

There is already numerous occasions where his skill sets have helped in the Hispanic community.

"They've been able to communicate with law enforcement in the sense of reporting the crimes,” Puente tells KTVO.  “I assisted two calls with domestic violence where parties that have been involved where they cannot communicate efficiently with the officer in English so I've been able to assist with that."

Puente is a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  He also worked as a Franklin County Iowa Sheriff Deputy.  Before the hire, Ottumwa Police Chief Jim Clark said this would be a great addition. “Obviously hiring a bilingual officer is very important as we have a large Hispanic population, Spanish-speaking population,” Clark said.  “Prior to this, it has been difficult communicating with some.”

Puente’s first experience in Ottumwa was back when he helped during the 2008 floods. 

Puente says many members of the Hispanic community often fear the police but he hopes the department will continue to bridge the gaps of communication.

“It’s been an ongoing process.  I’m still new within the agency, but every encounter we have we with the community we try to give them the business for the police department.  We advise them that we have a bilingual officer in the force and even when they don’t speak the language they’re encouraged to call.”