IDAHO FALLS -- The Idaho Falls City Council has voted a three percent pay raise for full-time police officers who can speak Spanish.

The move by the council last week is designed to deal with a growing Hispanic population that sometimes has police responding to calls where the victims or suspects only speak Spanish.

A police officer with two years experience who passes a required oral and written proficiency test would see his or her annual pay increase from $38,600 to $39,700.

Lieutenant Joe Cawley, spokesman for the Idaho Falls Police Department, says that four or five officers in the 89-officer department could qualify for the bonus.