L to R: Program Manager, Governor's Office of Highway Safety - La Retta Lehan, Executive Director Arizona Fair Housing Center - Ed Valenzuela,
Ph.D., Assistant Chief of Police, Tempe - Thomas J. Ryff, La Protectora - Cecilia Lerma |
Cecilia Lerma, GOHS La Protectora Program Coordinator, conducts an interview in Spanish about the Pasa Las Llaves Program to a Telemundo reporter |
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Father Raul Trevizo, St. John’s Church, Vicar for Hispanic affairs with Cecilia |
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety has implemented La Protectora, a proactive Hispanic focused traffic safety outreach program. La Protectora is a bilingual program that places special emphasis on traffic safety by means of outreach and education through direct contact with our Hispanic community. This public affairs project emphasizes prevention rather than focusing on enforcement measures. The bilingual program will be promoted at local neighborhood/town hall meetings, educational functions, media events and at other community related forums. The program features education and training by a Spanish-speaking officer, who promotes a positive image of the Hispanic driver who cares for his/her family by taking responsibility for traffic safety.
The goal of the La Protectora Program is to reduce the disproportionate number of Hispanic surnamed drivers and victims involved in traffic related collisions. Activities are designed to educate and encourage positive traffic safety behavior and to build better community relations between the community and law enforcement agencies. The driving force and focus of this program is the use of a Spanish speaking police officer of Hispanic ancestry.
The Governors Office of Highway Safety has selected Officer Cecilia Lerma as the Arizona Protectora. Officer Lerma is an officer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. She worked as a patrolman in Pima County for six years and was previously an investigator with the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau her previous five years. Officer Lerma brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the program which will enhance the organization of community events, provide traffic safety education presentations and serve as a Hispanic role model. The Arizona Protectora is a multifaceted outreach program designed to reach our statewide Hispanic community.
If your agency or community is interested in inviting Cecilia for a presentation at any community event, please call her at 1-520-790-5124 or email her at: clerma@azgohs.gov
La Protectora Presentation (powerpoint)
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