A ‘fake’ sign language interpreter has surfaced in Florida at a news conference announcing the capture of an alleged serial killer.
Except, according to deaf people and sign language experts, she was talking gibberish.
Settambrino translated what Roberts appeared to be signing during one clip as she apparently interpreted the words of the chief police:
“Fifty-one hours ago, zero 12 22 (indecipherable) murder three minutes in 14 weeks ago in old (indecipherable) murder four five 55,000 plea 10 arrest murder bush (indecipherable) three age 24.”
At that point, the police chief had in fact been outlining the timeline of the four shootings and describing how police had received some 5,000 tips before the 24-year-old suspect had been arrested.
Deaf people and interpreters were outraged, complaining that her signs could not be understood, and commenting on the police Facebook post of the video.
Cameo Hunsaker wrote: “The sign language interpreter is completely incomprehensible.”
“Did you guys learn nothing from the legal and PR debacle from Manatee County and Mandela’s funeral? She should be ashamed of herself.”
Florida police have run into the problem of ‘fake’ sign language interpreters before.
In September, as officials announced mandatory evacuation, an “interpreter” in Manatee County signed along in gibberish, making signs that looked like “pizza,” ‘’monster,“ and ”bear.”
The state of Florida does not require authorities to use registered interpreters
“I was disappointed, confused, upset, and really want to know why the city of Tampa’s chief of police, who is responsible for my safety ... did not check her out,” Settambrino said.
Tampa Police Department spokesperson Janelle McGregor said they had not requested an interpreter for a news conference on the 28th, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The department is conducting an internal review to determine “who sent this particular interpreter to the news conference to provide services.”
He assumed that someone else at the department called the service it uses for interpreters.
“I allowed her to do it. I didn’t ask enough questions,” Hegarty said.
Some media reports confirm that a woman sharing the same name as the interpreter was convicted of fraud but have yet to verify that they are the same person.
Roberts has so far not responded to the allegations.
One more kindly remark on Facebook from an interpreter encouraged Roberts to get in touch with a mentor and learn professional skills. “And please do not ever do this again. I am sure your heart was in the right place but you did more harm than good.”
In 2013, videos of the sign language interpretation of Nelson Mendela’s funeral went viral after deaf people complained he was not signing anything meaningful and that he did not know South African sign language.
The man insisted that he was a bona fide interpreter but that he had suffered a psychotic episode at the time, which caused him to see angels descending into the stadium.
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