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Capt. Darryl W. McSwain does not want people to "suffer in silence."

That is one of the reasons why the county police department's 1st District station recently expanded its outreach efforts, specifically into the Hispanic community.

During the investigation of a series of robberies targeting Hispanic people a year ago and in other crime investigations involving the Latino community, McSwain said his officers found victims who were afraid to report the crimes to the police.

He said officers wanted to reach out to adults and children to make sure they knew the county police department "was very much concerned about their safety and welfare and not focused primarily on one's immigration status or other major concerns like that," said McSwain, commander of the 1st District.

He said the 1st District has responded by participating in community events and forums, most recently appointing Officer Boris Pallominy as the 1st District Hispanic liaison beginning at the end of the month.

McSwain said Pallominy was chosen because he is fluent in Spanish and has developed a good rapport with the Hispanic community.

Pallominy was unavailable for comment.

Pallominy's duties will include creating Spanish-language publications, attending community meetings, providing conflict resolution and giving crime prevention presentations, among other outreach efforts, McSwain said.

Additionally, police service aide Irma Carin, also fluent in Spanish, will assist the victim services coordinator in her duties to help crime victims with emotional and financial assistance, among other tasks.

McSwain said the 1st District includes 85 square miles, going north to Shady Grove Road and Route 28, as far east as Muncaster Mill and Veirs Mill roads, to the southern border of the county, and as far west as Seneca Road past Quince Orchard High School."

Two months ago, the 1st District held its latest community forum at The Shrine of St. Jude Catholic Church on Veirs Mill Road, which McSwain said has a large Hispanic congregation. Police officers offered safety tips and information on the 9-1-1 system and answered questions about the police department.

Officers have since used other ways to teach residents about safety and crime prevention, such as the annual National Night Out event on Aug. 5, which they held at Randolph Road and Veirs Mill Road, an area with a large Hispanic population, McSwain said.

"We wanted to purposely do that not only to continue our outreach effort to the community, but to do so in a place that's easily accessible by walking and public transportation," McSwain said. "It proved to be, in our estimation, a success."

Approximately 600 people attended the event, he said. National Night Out is held each year throughout the county in an effort to offer crime-prevention strategies.

The 1st District police are also reaching out to children with such activities as a poster contest and the first-ever Police Adventure Camp, both held at Viers Mill Elementary School.

Viers Mill Elementary, with 60 percent to 65 percent of its student population Hispanic, has been doing its own outreach to students and parents, so the partnership came naturally.

Most of the children who participated in the camp were those "not making the best choices" and who do not have many positive role models, according to Viers Mill Principal Matthew Devan.

"The more adults they talk to who work hard … and living on the good side of things, the more we get their brains thinking about what life can be like," Devan said.

The police partnered with the school's Linkages to Learning program to host a one-week summer camp for about 30 third- through fifth-graders with the goal of "providing positive interaction with police," McSwain said.

Throughout the week, the children participated in activities with the officers, from arts and crafts and sports, to learning about conflict resolution, teamwork, bullying, peer pressure, the dangers of drugs, gangs and traffic safety, and demonstrations by the fire department and the police K-9 unit.

Every year, the 1st District police also hold a bike rodeo, offering free bikes and helmets while teaching children about bicycle safety through fun activities.

Many of the outreach activities and events have been held in what McSwain called the Randolph-Veirs Mill corridor because of its high Hispanic population, he said.

"Certainly, we have noticed an increase [in the Hispanic population] and also wanted to ensure that all members of the community felt needed and that their voice mattered," McSwain said.

The 1st District will hold its annual Open House event on Sept. 27, opening its doors to the public to learn about the police station. The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m.