After receiving a $100,000 federal grant, it now has contracts with several sign language interpreters' agencies. Now, some people involved with those groups, wonder if our tax dollars are being wasted.

Marilyn Weber with Deaf Interpreter Services tells us, "The grant money is a wonderful idea, and its for an incredible cause, but if it's not being carried out properly, its useless."

The police report filed in connection with Monday night's call states, "There were no officers in the city which spoke sign language." It appears the police didn't call a contracted interpreter to the scene."

News 4 WOAI's Leila Walsh asked SAPD spokesman Officer Joe Rios, "Is that money being used appropriately if those agencies were not contacted? " Rios answered, "I'm not aware. I know that we did receive some money for DeafLink and that's a service that we use to take statements from victims when we have that luxury of leaving the scene."

Officer Rios adds that in Monday night's case, detectives wanted to talk to the woman at the home because they didn't want the accused rapist to take off. He says people at the scene helped officers to communicate with the woman, and they were able to make an arrest.

By Mandi Bishop
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=3870CF05-4BF9-4768-9624-42241247D05F