Police union not impressed with panel’s policy changes
“To my fellow law-abiding citizens, don’t be fooled - the policy hasn’t changed,” says head of PLEA
The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) has long been vocal in requesting a substantive change to existing police procedures regarding Operations Order 1.4, which restricted their ability to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when officers have “reasonable suspicion” that a detainee is also an illegal alien.
Mayor Phil Gordon, long known for his sanctuary city polices, finally relented to police and public pressure and appointed a panel of hand-picked “experts” to review the existing policy and make recommendations.
Mark Spencer, President of PLEA, representing 2,200 officers, seventy-seven percent of whom supported a change in policy, was not impressed with the limp changes announced four days ago by Gordon’s advisory group. Spencer responded, “Your police officers maintain the need for an immediate, real-time, discretionary phone call to ICE based upon reasonable suspicion, and nothing else.”
The panel’s recommendations restrict any inquires regarding citizenship status to those arrested for commission of misdemeanors or felonies. Police would be prohibited from making such status inquiries at traffic stops and for other civil violations.
Spencer said the panel’s recommendations do not go far enough.
“To my fellow law-abiding citizens, don’t be fooled - the policy hasn’t changed,” Spencer said. “To illegal aliens in Phoenix, don’t worry - the policy hasn’t changed.”
Of course, Gordon defended the new policy and the efforts of his sycophantic panel. And, not surprisingly, the lead editorial in today’s Fishwrapper, heaps praise on what the paper terms, A balanced effort.”
February 20, 2008 at 3:08 pm
In the Republic’s editorial, I read that Gordon’s “distinguished” three-lawyer panel took a contemplative couple of months to “discuss, deliberate and reach an accord,” which even they acknowledge is a “measured, modest, revision.”
Apparently, the paper, in its enthusiasm for the end result on which they are so keen, neglected to factor in the holidays, during which time the “distinguished” panel did not “deliberate.” Nor did they take into account the fact that the officers and their representatives–whose daily work places them in harm’s way—are better equipped to decide what is a more pragmatic approach to deal with the illegal criminals and suspects they encounter.
Why were there no officers or PLEA officials on this bogus panel, which is an affront to both the police officers and the citizens of Phoenix?
Shame on Mayor Gordon and his team of “formers”—as in
former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley,
Former Attorney General Grant Woods, and two former U.S. Attorneys:
Jose Rivera and Paul Charlton.
Why wasn’t the current County Attorney, Andrew Thomas, on this panel?
Could it be because he actually wants to enforce the law rather than toy with it?
Where was the current Attorney General, Terry Goddard?
How about Maricopa County Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, who the paper is now disparaging?
How about the partners or spouses of officers slain by illegals? They might have been able to add another perspective to the “contemplation.”
This panel of experts and their “modest revision” are a bad joke.
February 20, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I’d call this collusion. The co-conspirators are the mayor, the AZ Republic, and this panel of “experts” that are all in sync with a continued flow of illegals into our state and country. Shame on them all!
February 20, 2008 at 9:52 pm
PLEA president, Mark Spencer, is a stand up guy, with a strong backbone. I don’t know him, but wish I did. The fact that he doesn’t cave to what must be massive pressure, makes him A-1. I imagine the cops he represents are happy to have him backing them up.
May 1, 2008 at 10:28 am
[...] Gordon. The two have been in a contentious battle over Gordon’s sanctuary city policies and restricting of Phoenix police in performing their job and Arpaio’s patrols in which illegal aliens have been [...]