GREEN BAY, Wis (NBC 26) -- On Wednesday two Brown County state lawmakers introduced legislation that they hope will contribute to a more diversified police force across the state.
For five years now Jose Del Rio has held various jobs and internships at the Green Bay Police Department, but because he was born in Mexico and brought to Wisconsin illegally as a two-year-old, Del Rio is not eligible to become an officer or a sheriff's deputy in Wisconsin.
"You know I kept saying I am not going to let this stop me. I'm going to keep pushing forward and keep being the voice of other individuals that maybe don't have the opportunities I do," says Del Rio who still has a dream of pursuing a profession as a Green Bay Police officer.
On Wednesday two republican lawmakers from Brown County aimed to change Del Rio's future by introducing legislation that would allow Dreamers like Jose an opportunity to pursue a career as an officer or sheriff's deputy.
"This is typically where the best legislation starts. It starts with the community, with local leaders," says State Representative David Steffen, a Republican representing District 4.
"This is not a mandatory thing across the state. It allows various jurisdictions to make that decision," adds State Representative John Macco, a Republican representing District 88.
Ultimately the goal of this piece of legislation according to the representatives is to diversify the police force and allow people who grew up in the United States the chance to serve the community they call home.
"This is an opportunity not for right or left, republican or democrat, this is an opportunity to fix something that's not right here in Wisconsin," says Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith.
Chief Smith says he would jump at the opportunity to hire Del Rio, a young man who is not only bilingual but who also has been pursuing a career in law enforcement in Green Bay for all of the right reasons according to Chief Smith.
"This is a great opportunity for us to diversify our department, to become more representative of the community we serve and allow young people like this to fulfill the dreams that they have of serving the community that they grew up in."
The legislation has already garnered bipartisan support in Madison. Del Rio says he hopes to one day have the opportunity to make a change in the community he grew up in could be a reality.
"We can create the change that we need and fix these broken foundations with our communities."
