Almost a year ago San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome was forced to rescind their sanctuary city policy after illegal alien Edwardo Ramos killed three innocent people (read about it here). Last Saturday, three illegal aliens stormed a Denny's and took something far more valuable than money... an innocent life.
You'd think that The Almighty Alcalde in the middle of an election year would immediately reverse course and correct his earlier mistake. If you did, you'd be wrong. Instead of admitting that the mayor had hamstrung his police officers through a misguided SOP, he's trying to shift the blame to the federal government.
Deborah James, spokeswoman for Mayor Martin Chavez, said blame in the Denny’s case lies with federal immigration authorities, who are supposed to check the immigration status of every person arrested and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center, which is run by Bernalillo County. In the case of Ortiz, that apparently didn’t happen, she said.The fact of the matter is that every person who has sworn an oath to protect the public and who wears a badge should be concerned about enforcing all of our laws. Jail officials are not on the front line... APD officers are.
“The mayor has asked them to have someone there on a more full-time basis,” James said. “We don’t have any authority over the jail. We make the arrest, but if immigration authorities aren’t following through, or if the courts let them go, we have no jurisdiction.”
Our Eyes behind the badge have always told us that they stop illegals on a daily basis. Marty and the 5th Floor have simply made it impossible for officers to use their discretion when they have a reasonable suspicion that the individual that they have come in contact with is in this country illegally.
Officers shall not inquire about or seek proof of a person's immigration status, unless the person is in custody or is a suspect in a criminal investigation for a nonimmigration criminal violation and the immigration status of the person or suspect is pertinent to the criminal investigation.The concept that a suspected illegal must be the subject of a nonimmigration investigation or violation, and have their status be pertinent to the criminal investigation is precisely what prohibited officers - who came into contact with two of the suspects (Meglar and Ortiz) when they were arrested for DWI - from contacting immigration authorities.
[Sidebar]We're not saying that APD's SOP is directly responsible for the murder of Stephanie Anderson. We're saying that the SOP removed an opportunity for APD officers to prevent an act of violence by making a simple phone call.
Have you noticed how hard it is to find The Almighty Alcalde these days? Whenever there's a crisis Marty simply disappears. He'll send his minions out to spin the facts and try to shift the blame, but he rarely makes his mayoral self available for questions. It doesn't matter whether it's thirteen bodies on the west side or a brutal murder at Denny's... he's nowhere to be found.
[End Sidebar]
Yesterday, R. J. Berry held a news conference down at Civic Plaza to address his plans for APD's SOP with regard to illegal immigrants. As expected, Marty's minions were quick to play the fear-mongering race card.
A city of Albuquerque official said Wednesday that the allegations by the Republican Party of New Mexico are "appalling" and compared proposed Republican policy changes to "racial profiling."The truth is illegal immigration and racial profiling have nothing to do with one another. It makes little difference where an illegal comes from. What matters is that they came into this country illegally. An illegal immigrant's point of origin has nothing to do with it.
Since the Journal buried Berry's statement, we're gonna publish his full press release here.
It's amazing what one word can do. Deputies are prohibited from scooping up suspected illegals for being illegals, but they are not prohibited from contacting appropriate authorities when a suspect is in custody for any offense. More specifically, deputies are directed to notify their Field Supervisor "immediately if it is suspected that the person may be an undocumented [illegal] immigrant."Berry Will End “Sanctuary City” Policy in AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque, NM – June 24, 2009 – Richard Berry vowed today that if he is elected Mayor, he will end the “Sanctuary City” policy put in place at the Albuquerque Police Department by Mayor Martin Chavez, and he will keep up the fight to end the state’s policy of giving New Mexico driver’s licenses to people who are in the United States illegally.
Candidate for Mayor says police must be allowed to enforce all
the laws, will work to repeal driver’s license law
Berry says Chavez’s directive at APD prevents police officers from enforcing all the laws, and when used in combination with the state’s policy on drivers’ licenses, it severely hampers APD’s ability to keep our city safe.
“Our police officers are doing an incredible job fighting crime in this city considering they are being told by the Mayor to do it with one arm handcuffed behind their backs,” said Berry. “Politics has gotten in the way of the police department and it’s gotten in the way of common sense, and this must end.”
The Albuquerque Journal reported today that the men suspected of robbing a Westside Denny’s and murdering a female cook are not only in the United States illegally, but were once in the hands of local law enforcement, and then released.
"I want to be very clear that the people responsible for this latest tragedy are the three thugs who committed this horrible crime. Period. But as policy-makers, we must look at what common-sense steps we can take to help law enforcement get criminals like this off our streets," said Berry.
Berry empathized with law enforcement, saying he couldn’t imagine how frustrating it must be for an officer on the street to pick up someone on a violation, not have the authority and support to run them through the system, watch them go free because of politics and misguided policies, and then turn around one day to see that same criminal commit a heinous crime like this.
“It’s the combination of laws and policies that are failing our officers, and the people of Albuquerque,” said Berry. “As Mayor, I will do two things. I will end this policy at APD and I will work with the legislature and the new administration in Santa Fe to change the current state law on driver’s licenses.”
Berry, a two-term legislator, who voted this year in support of a statewide anti-profiling law, has opposed the state’s driver’s license policy since its inception.
“As Mayor, I will put in place an APD policy that will dovetail with the one that is currently in use by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, which will leave the discretion for law enforcement up to the officer on the street instead of the politicians at City Hall.”
Policy for the Bernalillo Sheriff Department reads, “Deputies shall not stop and question, detain, arrest or place an “immigration hold” on any persons not suspected of crimes, solely on the grounds that they may be deportable immigrants. When arrest is necessary for the violation of State Law or County Ordinance, deputies shall notify their Field Supervisor immediately if it is suspected that the person may be an undocumented immigrant. At that time, the Supervisor will begin the notification process.”
“I’m going to change this policy and then I’m going to stand behind my officers,” said Berry.
Policy decisions have consequences and bad decisions have a way of coming home. In this case, a few simple words may have prevented officers from taking two brutal murders off the street and there's only one person ultimately responsible.
12 comments:
Barboa for mayor he can fix anything even chavez mistakes
The age-old pesky U.S.-Mexico border problem has taxed the resources of both countries, led to long lists of injustices, and appears to be heading only for worse troubles in the future. Guess what? The border problem can never be solved. Why? Because the border IS the problem! It's time for a paradigm change.
Never fear, a satisfying, comprehensive solution is within reach: the Megamerge Dissolution Solution. Simply dissolve the border along with the failed Mexican government, and megamerge the two countries under U.S. law, with mass free 2-way migration eventually equalizing the development and opportunities permanently, with justice and without racism, and without threatening U.S. sovereignty or basic principles.
For details, Google "Megamerge Dissolution Solution", or click url.
The Denny's murder by MS13 gang members is the logical and tragic result of governmental inaction regarding illegal immigration. The federal government simply refuses to guard our borders. NM state government encourages illegal immigration by granting drivers' licenses and in-state university tuition rates to illegals (not to mention the benefits of free public school education and emergency medical care which are mandated by federal laws). City government sanctuary policy is the third nail in the coffin. One of the suspects had a NM driver's license and had been arrested twice for DWI in the months prior to the robbery. The Albuquerque police were apparently not even permitted to ask the DWI arrestee his immigration status. Had such a question been permitted, the Denny's tragedy may well have been averted.
Whenever Mayor Chavez or Chief Schultz are interviewed on the subject of not asking persons their immigration status, the standard response is that the policy increases cooperation from the illegal alien community in solving crimes. I remain dubious. I'd like to see an INDEPENDENT study verifying this assertion. Secondly, within the last year to year and a half, there was a segment on "60 Minutes" reporting on the fact that many black communities have murder clearance rates of less than 10% (I think the national clearance rate is 60% to 70%) because of the "do not snitch" ethos in that community. If US citizens in some cases refuse to cooperate with police authorities, what makes you think that illegal aliens are going to do so?
HAHAHAHA UR FUNNY
The city minions are trying to spin the whole Denny’s tragedy as if MS-13 is new to the area. Shultz said the gang unit has only 14 registered members and a few are MS-13. That’s because gang members don’t give up their affiliations, duh. MS-13 has been running amuck in the Q since the mid-90’s this isn’t anything new and Marty and Ray know it. Just how many officers are in the gang unit?
They also knew there were 9 other recent related robberies and did nothing to protect the public. They’re too busy thinking they know what the public interest is. They live in La-La land with Tinky Winky and his pals. It’s very sad that their politics allowed a life to be lost and 40 witnesses to have lasting mental health issues. The victims should hold them responsible. Hopefully the Feds will take over the case and those scum will get the death penalty. We can’t take a chance of Murdock being the judge and letting them walk.
That same weekend cops up north were busting the “Rainbow People” for not using turn signals. What a f’d up state and city we have. This Democrat is going to support Berry for Mayor.
One big hole in the mayors story of blame to other agencies -- APD used to be able to call I.N.S. and tell them to get their butts out to the jail to check on status of an inmate. Putting the onus of the problem on the one guy who goes out there and checks status on inmates , WITHOUT any input allowed from the Department, is patently unfair,
You know, the sort of UNFAIR that accounts for the alcalde's folks playing the race card on Berry right out of the gate this year.
It isnt racial profiling to tell INS/ICE that an illegal is already in jail -- boneheads
Marty's lack of presence during any significant event is typical of his leadership: none. In fact you'd be more accurate to call him an anti-leader.
Sure, he's there for ribbon cutting for bus stops, silly bike boulevard speed signs, or anything where he's the good guy hustling the latest fad (be it city sprawl or worthless "green" items) but nothing controversial. When was the last time anybody saw him take a challenge from the press with follow up?
Speaking of stupid purple numbered signs...certain attornies are getting ready for the first injury/death of a cyclists that happens on one of those routes. Since the silly numbered signs aren't DOT compliant with federal standards you can be assured the city will pay big...very big. Just remember it was Marty who demanded they be posted with non-conforming speeds (18mph...wtf?)
So Thank You Marty, we couldn't have done it without you.
"Where's Marty?"
Lay off the Barboa comments. They are sarcastic and petty. Get off this forum and addres the problems the right way. Quit idolizing officers/supervisors who make thier names by stirring the pot for thier own interests and self glory. In short grow up.
Barboa stirs the pot regularly you dont work in the se?
Berry for Mayor!!!
If the Republican Party of NM had any balls they'd be driving/contracting that truck around with the moving billboard again.
No wonder they can't win any elections.
That truck works great. It's owned by a guy in Rio Rancho. Can't remember his name. But that's a great idea.
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