(Washington, DC) – The Office of Police Complaints (OPC) participated in the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (OLA) Spring Community Fair on Saturday, April 14, 2012.  The event was free and held at La Luz del Mundo Church in Northeast Washington.

The goal of the event was to facilitate access to information and services for residents of Ward 5, specifically the Spanish-speaking population.  At the fair, OPC staffed a booth and provided educational materials in both English and Spanish on the agency’s services and efforts to promote greater police accountability.  In addition, several agency employees were available throughout the day to answer questions about OPC and its citizen complaint process. 

The event also featured other organizations, free health screenings for cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure, and entertainment for children and prize give-aways.

Since opening to the public in 2001, OPC has regularly participated in outreach events sponsored by other government agencies, service providers, and community organizations.

“Reaching out to the community is a major part of our mission” said Philip K. Eure, executive director of OPC.  “It is important that the public, particularly those with limited English proficiency, understand what their rights are and what resources are available to protect them.” 

To request a presentation from OPC at a community forum or to get more information about the agency, please visit www.policecomplaints.dc.gov.  For more information about OLA, visit www.ola.dc.gov.