Thread: AR: Task force agent cleared in 2 cases of racial charges

BY MICHELLE BRADFORD

Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2008

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An undercover officer assigned to Northwest Arkansas ’ task force investigating illegal immigrants is being unfairly targeted by bogus complaints, Springdale’s police chief said last week.

Since the Immigration Criminal Apprehension Task Force started work in October, two complaints have been made to local law enforcement, and both were against the Springdale undercover officer.

A Dec. 21 complaint said the officer mocked and threatened suspects during a Dec. 10 raid at Acambaro Mexican Restaurants and related businesses. The other, on Dec. 3, accused him of unfairly stopping Hispanic motorists.

Internal investigations cleared the officer in both complaints, which were made to Police Chief Kathy O’Kelley. She wouldn’t release his name because he works undercover.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette obtained the complaints through the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, but the Police Department redacted the officer’s name. The department also refused to release the contents of its investigations into the complaints.

The task force, comprised of officers in Washington and Benton counties, enforces immigration laws under a federal provision called 287 (g ).

In the program, 19 police officers and jailers build cases against suspected illegal immigrants for prosecution and deportation. Participating agencies are the Benton and Washington county sheriff’s offices and the Springdale and Rogers police departments.

The program has faced criticism from those who say it’s fundamentally flawed because it borders on racial profiling. Officials say it’s good police work.

“This officer is being unfairly characterized in an attempt to discredit the 287 (g ) program,â€

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