She’s not serving in a legal capacity she’s being the interpreter on a law enforcement matter, it’s no different than calling on a police officer who can speak Spanish to interpret to a driver on a traffic stop that doesn’t know English. She’s not going before a judge and signing as a legal representative, she’s simply aiding the police department and other local departments in communicating with someone whose deaf/hard of hearing.
It is one thing to sign with deaf people in the community, but for a police officer to provide interpreting services in a legal capacity should be a "Conflict of Interest." As a professional Sign Language Interpreter, I was taught in a my Interpreting Training Program that any settings involving legal cases should be done by a "Certified Sign Language Interpreter." When you employ a C.S.L.I., it legally protects all parties involved. Nowdays as part of the"Certification" process, you need four year college degree, extensive training, and must pass a difficult national testing system administered by RID..FYI.
