Borough to use a translator

Hamburg — Melissa Morales, a part-time clerk in the Hamburg Borough office, has a new role. She will also be called upon to use her Spanish skills as a translator, when Borough Police need that service. Morales has — from time to time — been recruited for this work, but now Hamburg Police Chief Jan Wright has formalized the arrangement. She will be brought in, as needed, to help break down the language barrier between the police force and Spanish-speaking citizens, says Chief Jan Wright. Morales is a resident of Hamburg and while she has no certification or training as a translator, she is well-versed in Spanish. She will be paid at an hourly rate, starting with a two-hour minimum. In her role as translator, Chief Wright said, Morales will be asked to speak with victims or witnesses to help police get information.