Oakland

CITY DRUG HOT LINE NOW IN 5 LANGUAGES

The Police Department has expanded its anonymous drug hot line so that
callers can now provide tips in any of five languages.

The hot line, operating only in English since the 1980s, has been expanded
so city employees can translate voice-mail messages left in Spanish,
Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese. Police noted that street-corner drug
dealers often operate in neighborhoods inhabited by immigrants whose native
language is not English.

The expanded hot line is designed to allow those residents to help drive
out drug dealers without compromising their safety, Sgt. Bob Crawford said.

Compiled from Chronicle staff and news service reports.