hello and welcome to "comunidad del valle" i'm damian trujillo. today the new san jose police community liaison is in our studio plus a new film about a bay area climbing victim. this is "comunidad del valle." >> nbc bay area presents "comunidad del valle." with damian trujillo. >> we begin today with the man who's been making waves all across the bay area, aron, the president of the story road business association. welcome to the show. >> thank you. >> you have been twrafling up and down north america mexico and canada. to promote companies or whoever establishing kind of business

association. tell us what we've been doing. >> well, what i didn't do is getting latino businesses in mexico and canada tried to connect, trying to connect on the map. and more than that, bringing economic development into the city of san jose. >> what has that been like? what kind of reception are you getting in canada for example a place where you wouldn't think of establishing these kinds of affiliations? >> in canada, it's a big help from the government to all the small businesses, something that's not a city kind of thing. also in mexico they open the doors to any trade on small businesses. we have help from government and to do those strengths and facilitate strengths on businesses. >> why does somebody in canada carry about maybe a real estate agent or explain that. >> for example in canada, i know that it's a small mexican

community but it's growing. canada is in big need of jobs. they're open to immigration reform. canada has the number one in the world immigration reform. so they are open to immigrants. they're open to people who want to go into business and work in canada. >> i have a thing you've been doing kind of helping -- helping the local businesses here kind of reach the county or the city government agencies either one of the two, to see how they maybe can benefit or get some services or get what's coming to them, basically. >> well, there is i lot of knowledge in our community, how to deal with government. especially city hall, and county. you know, when the city says we're open to business, they're always talking about the big ones. but they forget the little ones like the ones that many bases that you know, have to deal with issues.

i had a business that i met last year in december. you know, ran for a whole year and could not get to city hall. if you don't know -- >> is that because they don't know the system? >> because they don't know the system. but also they got a personal that was an architect that wasn't an architect so things like that you have to have the right people to navigate but also you know, the corporate once you know the system, they help to navigate that. i not only help businesses but also help them learn how to navigate the system. >> in your travels, again to mexico and canada what do you think has been able to accomplish? have you formed associations abroad? how have you helped the story road business association? >> we form an association in canada this is worldwide. association. that is -- one of its kind throughout the world.

only united states and china that want these association. this one that we form is only latino businesses, to all the world. we got members from africa, europe, asia, and of course, all america. >> what are you creating do you think? because this is kind of the springboard to to something big. what do you think you're creating? >> what we're creating is kind of having more kind of a strength and power to businesses. and also the growing of our latino community in the united states. is huge. and we have to pay attention to that. and we have to pay attention, also, how to do business with canada and mexico more than looking at as enemies or as another country. we have to look at the country as partners. >> as a story road business association you have to concentrate on the small businesses, and you're also thinking globally and how to

expand those businesses to other countries. >> well this is the way i went -- i'm saying it. for example in mexico, in canada, they see how the world is globalizing in the small business. you cannot imagine how many small businesses are right now in both sides of the borders and this is getting even closer than ever before. >> you want everybody here to have a piece of that pie probably. >> not only that, but it's, you know, a lot of opportunities. we got a business that do the same that mexican businesses do it. or in canada. or the new businesses that started, you know, we've been there for many years. we got in canada been there for three or four years. and they have one of their members came to san jose to look at the hispanic chamber of commerce how it was created like 50 years ago, so we -- >> that's great.

well, aaron, again is the president of the story road business association. disclaimer he is a candidate for city council in san jose. we invited each of the candidates to come on the show and talk were something that's important to them, aside from the election and aaron was here. we did not receive a reply so we will leave it at that. aaron we will see you out on skreet. >> up next on "comunidad del valle" a film about a local is face.you right in the nexgard from the makers of frontline® plus it's the only chew that kills both fleas and american dog ticks. vets recommend it, and dogs, well they're begging for it. nexgard is for dogs only and hasn't been evaluated for use in pregnant, breeding or lactating dogs. reported side effects include vomiting, dry flaky skin, diarrhea, lethargy and lack of appetite. use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. recommended by vets. loved by dogs. from the makers of frontline® plus.

the name of the film is love. the filmmaker is with us jay lopez is from the bay area his second film are you working on some more that i haven't heard of? >> you heard about -- >> let me show what we're talking about and then we'll talk on the other end about why you decided to take this on. here's a clip.

>> this is the stairwell where cecilia rio died. the memoial is set up for polly klaas. >> it has been turned into a memorial. ♪ >> you are seeing pictures of the family -- >> people are crying and praying. >> everyone. >> boy, pretty gripping video. so obviously cecilia just celebrated her 15th birthday. she was from the city of

richmond. tell us what happened. and what year that was. >> this was the year of '74 she took a shortcut home to borrow a movie from a friend and on the way home the perpetrator followed her, who arrived two months earlier, he his intent was to rob her, but he brutally raped and stabbed her over 18 times, and left the city of richmond, in awe for the past 20 years. it's a real touching story. it's a beautiful story, as well. >> where is that perpetrator now? >> he -- is in jail. actually. >> okay. >> the rumor is that he committed suicide, as well. >> so why was this important? why was it important for you to pick up the story and tell it? >> this happened in my community. she was murdered a mile away from me where i live. i was 9 years old when she was

murdered. i heard about her when i was 15 years old and for the past 15 years, actually, every year i just thought about who she was. i wasn't so concerned on how she died or what happened or what was the cause of it but really curious to know who she was. after my first film, i was done. i'm done making movies for awhile. it was just so much work. but something in my heard told me i had to tell her story. the beautiful part of this story is that me and her have no mutual friends so i didn't know how i was going to do it but god had blessed me in many different ways and i was able to get a hold of her boyfriend, she had a boyfriend, julio garcia, who i'm very close with. i got a chance to meet her parents. ava and juan, who i loved dearly who are awesome. i just saw them mother's day. they're a beautiful family you know and they haven't talked about it in 20 years so to bring this up it's kind of hard you

know but they think it's time to tell her story to the whole world. >> what do you think you want to tell the kids of richmond or the east bay with this film? is there maybe a sib liminal message? >> the message about forgiveness, love, unity, family, i think her story is un variousal. not just for latinos. it's for any race that could relate to as well. i also feel like even parents who have lost their children through violence can relate to the story, as well. and hopefully when they watch this movie they can get hope out of it and actually you know, don't mourn for much about the person you lost by their death but mourn the happy stuff they left behind. that's the focus of this movie and hopefully the kids and community can relate to the story, as well. and get something out of it. >> i think we tend to, as a society, over use the word closure. i don't think there could ever be closure when something like this happens. do you think it gets close to what hows her parents and her

family and those who knew her to kind of start reaching? >> it's a real good question. because julio her boyfriend he had a lot of doubts and a lot f of, you know, regrets you know the last day he had saw her you know she wanted to see his report card and he was bad at school. but he's good now. but she he she asked him can you go take me to pick up the movie and he's like no, i got some stuff to do and just call me when you get home. >> and she never got home. >> she never got home. that's part of his regret, as well. closure is a real hard subject for the whole entire family, as well you know. the mom had two boys actually, and and but they still talk about it. >> so this isn't opening up old wounds for them, this is kind of helping them heal. >> both. both chlt both. >> i actually showed the mom the footage and she was crying. she was very emotional. she never saw it before so she

was like, am i ready? am i ready for this? i think you are. >> and you mention the film like this isn't easy to put together so you're kind of raising funds so finish the project. >> so i'm doing an online fund-raiser and i'm also doing fund-raisers alongside from this fund-raiser later on in the next few months hoping to raise money to make the movie happened. we're hoping to shoot early next year. our goal is to raise $30,000. i know we can do it. but it's going to happen in my time. >> there's a facebook address, and again, the film san padre was popularly acclaimed so you might want to check this one out, as well. jay lopez is our filmmaker. thanks so much. >> thank you. >> all right. up next, on "comunidad del valle" the police's new community liaison. stay with us. [ wind howling ]

[ female announcer ] it balances you... [ water crashing ] ...it fills you with energy... and it gives you what you are looking for to live a more natural life. in a convenient two bar pack. this is nature valley... delicious granola bars made with the best ingredients in nature. nature valley. nature at its most delicious.

he's a new community liaison for the san jose police

department with me on "comunidad del valle" is my friend chris of the san jose police department. >> thanks for having me. >> what does this mean the new community liaison. i remember at telemundo we had someone called -- sergeant muntano was in charge of that. what's your role? >> basically i stole a little bit of that idea. i'm hoping to somewhat resurrect it hopefully soon like everything at the police department to have to go through the proper channels. but ultimately that's the goal. i came up with the idea that we need to have spanish speaking face to serve the community to liaison with the mexican consulate. just a variety of things that i felt that we need to be doing for the community. almost every large metropolitan police department in the country with a spanish speaking community has something in place. we didn't. right now i'm doing it, it's a pilot program. it's a collateral assignment,

still had my regular patrol duties and all of the stuff i had in regard to this program i do either on days off or the beginning of my shift. >> what does that mean? when you're not giving tickets what are you doing as a liaison. >> primarily i liaison with the mexican consulate. i try to be there a couple times a month in the morning and just generally be there to resource with people that come in. we have a large undocumented community in san jose. a lot of times i think they're afraid to speak to law enforcement because of various things they heard. i just wanted to build that bridge and be available without them having to worry. so what better place to be than at the mexican consulate. just the level of comfort that's a little bit different than, you know, being out in the street and being approachable in that way. >> i think even though hose are here legally. even those born in the states have a subliminal fear of law enforcement. why do you think that is and i'm assuming that's your duty to try to change that image within the

spanish speaking community. >> i don't know where that comes from one of the things that really bothered me a lot and i've heard this for 15 years, being a police officer here in san jose, especially when dealing with spanish speaking citizens, you know, mexican, the comments always get to me, why do mexican or latin or hispanic police officers treat other latinos or hispanics bad or and i don't know where that comes from. now i really have not been able to put my finger on it. our culture if someone tells a story and then it gets exaggerated. i try to take time to explain to people that you don't treat anybody according to, you know, their ethnic background the color of their skin. it's a job. there are officers sometimes that have bad days, absolutely. do i have bad days? yeah. i explain to people our profession is like any other profession you know, there's, good police officers, there's you know not so good police officers but that across the

board for any procession, doctors, clergy, anything, and i think it's just taking a little bit of time to talk to people and explain that to them. that kind of opens their eyes and they don't -- i try not to get them all the same -- >> so did you see that initially when you were standing there at the -- to kind of apprehension about approaching you or asking you and how have things changed since you took over the role? >> not really since my first day being at the mexican consulate i have just had a litry of he cans and problems that i've been able to help people with. and you know, i hope that, with helping these people it changes the mentality and attitude and they can share that with friends and family and then hopefully it's, you know, kind of a sweeping movement. i'm hoping in our study with our law enforcement where they don't feel like they can approach a hispanic or any police officers if they have a question. we don't care about your legal status in our cities. you know, that's not something we ask any victim of a crime or

witness or anything like that, that never comes up. i just really want to emphasize that to people. >> is that still a fear that victims of crimes don't come forward for that fear. >> absolutely. and i've been told that from victims, from witnesses, it's like, well, you know, am i going to be deported. no. absolutely not. what does happen is occasionally undocumented people commit crimes in our county, you know, they end up going to jail and periodically i.c.e. comes to the jail and does deport people. my explanation for that is if you have somebody who is selling drugs, who's out committing gang crimes, you know, is that somebody that you really want to be part of the community anyways. and 99% of the time the answer is no. but in terms of just being a victim or witness, absolutely not. >> i know that before he would go to festivals and be stationed there. besides security is that what you want to be, that presence

there at these festivals and whatnot where people can approach you as the liaison and not as a security force? >> absolutely. that's the goal hopefully i'm able to convince the chief that this is, required somebody to do this full time. right now i'm pretty busy. i usually put in six days a week doing one thing or another. i hope that it gets to a point where when our staffing gets a little bit better and it doesn't necessarily even have to be me. i've always been of the mind that i want to get this going i want to get this thing, and hopefully pass it on to somebody. i don't envision myself doing this for the rest of my career. i would like to get it started and then you know hopefully someone else that has the same, you know, desires and beliefs and sense of service to the community will take it over. i think it's something that we need on a permanent basis. >> chris, officer chris with the san jose police department there is the web address for more information maybe if you want to join the force you can logon and find out more about the recruiting procedures.

we'll be back and talk more with the officer when we continue.

we're back with new san jose police community liaison on "comunidad del valle." chris is that liaison. talk about the patch on your shoulder and what that means to you as a latino police officer or just as a police officer. >> you know, i was born and raised in san jose. i didn't really like the police too much growing up. i happened to be working with somebody at the time that was really interested in law enforcement. we are still friends to this day. he wanted to apply. he wanted to go through the process and didn't want to do it alone basically and he asked me to do it with him and i didn't want to. and took a little bit of arm twisting so i finally did it. six months later i got a job offer to start at the police academy and didn't really know

what i was getting myself into. it's kind of hard to explain or put into words for me. but, i take a lot of pride in wearing these patches and wearing this badge. with everything that's been going on in the city, i did explore some other options. it just made financial sense to me to be able to take care of my two kids a single dad with one income i really i had to do some serious soul cinching. i applied to a couple places. pretty close to leaving, had a job offer. and it was a couple sleepless nights and i couldn't do it. i am too much of a san jose boy i think. i love the city. it's sad the state it's in. i really want to be part of turning it around hopefully. i'm a firm believer that we're going to come back to what we used to be before in terms of staffing and everything else. we have two excellent leaders of the bargaining session now which is another reason i decided to stay as well.

larry escoval. great cop. fantastic chief. eddie garcia, another fantastic, what we would like to say is i cop's cop. they were both cops. they didn't want to really be administrators. >> they both wear that "h" pin that you're wearing? >> they do. chewed on the same dirt in that unit and i'm proud to you know, have it. >> the "h" pin is a symbol of the elite s.w.a.t. team for the san jose police department. i know that three years ago thereabouts, i mean, there was this animosity between the immigrant community and police officers. it kind of went completely around. why do you think that is and do you think your role as a liaison, but it's to improve that and make it even better to where it's not even an issue? >> i don't really know what the answer to why it has improved. i think that if anything there's always room for improvement. i want to keep it going. i want people to, you know,

really have trust in us. and every day activity, our jobs, and i always tell people it's kind of like how shall i put it, you need a movie star, somebody really famous, you know, you walk away from that encounter probably forever and you remember what that was like. but for that person he meets thousands of people in the week. it's kind of the same for us. where i zeal on a daily basis with you know a couple dozen people on calls or wherever else they may be. and i tend to forget those encounter really quick. those people don't. they always remember the encounter or the contact they had with the police officer. so i just try to end things on a positive note. try to make people happy. of course that's not always possible when i have somebody in handcuffs and of a got to take them to jail for domestic violence or something like that. but i think it's important just try to be positive. try to help people, and my goal

especially in san jose. >> officer chris the community's lee ason for the san jose police department, there is the web address for more information and also if you want to join the force. thank you for what you're doing. >> thank you. >> and now here's what's happening in your comunidad. celebrating this special day.

and our address for next week, also follow me on twitter my handle is @newsdamian. also pick up a copy of the newspaper and support your bilingual weeklies all across the bay area. we also invite you to join us on telemundo every saturday at 5:30 p.m. "comunidad del valle" repairs in spanish. we do these interviews all over again in espanol. we will see you again here next sunday. the answer to treating your dog's fleas and ticks is staring you right in the face. nexgard from the makers of frontline® plus it's the only chew that kills both fleas and american dog ticks.

vets recommend it, and dogs, well they're begging for it. nexgard is for dogs only and hasn't been evaluated for use in pregnant, breeding or lactating dogs. reported side effects include vomiting, dry flaky skin, diarrhea, lethargy and lack of appetite. use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. recommended by vets. loved by dogs. from the makers of frontline® plus.

nine championships. one home. nbc sports, championship season. today, the final stage of the amgen tour california will conclude here in thousand oaks. tour de france and olympic champion, bradley wiggen, his tour to victory. the amgen tour of california, next after this update. we'll get you right back to