VILLAGE OF HIGHLAND SKILLS, Ohio — Ohio’s first deaf police officer has served with the Highland Hills Police Department for a year and a half.
Carl DeForest, who was born with severe hearing loss, uses a device in his cruiser that transmits police scanner traffic directly to his hearing aid. He said the device automatically pairs with his hearing aid, allowing him to hear radio chatter while on patrol.
DeForest said he has wanted to become a police officer since he was 7 years old, after a teacher brought in a friend with a police canine…