Spark Spotlight First Responder: Henderson County Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Barbosa
Photo Credit: Henderson County Sheriff's Office
As the Outreach Coordinator for Henderson County, Stephanie Barbosa works directly with the police department, as well as the fire department and EMS, to translate for Spanish speakers who are often in crisis. While she also helps to coordinate community events and refers to her professional role as a bit of a “jack-of-all-trades,” her main responsibility is to break down any language barrier that exists between first responders and the people in need of their help.
How long have you been in your position?
I have been in my current position for three years now.
What initially made you interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement?
I worked at the DA’s office for three years. In that role, I met Sheriff Griffin who was working in Polk County as a detective at the time. One day he asked me that if he ran for Sheriff and became the Sheriff, would I be interested in working for him at the Sheriff’s Department doing something with the Latino community. A couple months after he took office, he offered me the position as Community Outreach Coordinator in Henderson County.
What is most important to you in your job?
My position was created because at that time there was a fear in the Latino community regarding law enforcement, and the Sheriff wanted to bridge the gap. Having someone that the Latino community could go to for any questions or concerns helps us to bridge that gap. For people who didn’t want to come forward at the time, I could help them do that and feel more comfortable doing so without questioning them. What is important to me is that we do everything we can to assist people when they do come in. Sometimes people will come into our office, and the first thing they say to us is, “I just want to let you know I’m not documented, but I want to report something that has been going on.” That alone for me is a huge step from where we were 4-5 years ago.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
There is always something new. I get to do new things every day. And of course, being able to help people is important to me.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding part is seeing people get the help that they need. Half the time, they end up coming back in and bringing someone else with them, and saying, ‘You helped me, I told them you could help them too.’
How do you handle challenges?
I have definitely had a lot of challenges jumping into this position. Basically, I would say the way I handle it is going with the flow. I figure out what I need to do to make the situation better, make it easier for myself, as well as everyone else involved, and to make sure it goes correctly.
What do you want Spark readers to know about you?
Hands-down, I work with the best department that there is. It is a family, and everyone is there for each other, regardless of the situation. My goal is to be able to serve my community better by helping the people who need assistance, or who are scared to ask for assistance.
For more information on the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office,
Johnny E. Duncan Jr.
Director of Technical Services
Public Information Officer
Henderson County Sheriff’s Office
828.694.2785 – o
828.699.3544 – c