Salinas Copwatch Keeps An Eye Out For Abuse
Group Says It's Fighting Law Enforcement Abuse

POSTED: 10:26 pm PST November 25, 2009
UPDATED: 11:00 pm PST November 25, 2009

SALINAS, Calif. -- Salinas Copwatch said it's fighting what it sees as an abuse of power by law enforcement.

The group has been following local law enforcement officers for the last two months videotaping arrests, car stops and just about anything they feel is unjust.

"It's a trap, don't get suckered in by the turkeys," said William Medrano.

That was a message the 19-year-old gave to passing drivers on Sanborn and East Alisal streets Tuesday night warning undocumented workers about the police department's DUI checkpoint.

"Because they're police, they might check for registration or license and stuff like that. We want them to know they're putting themselves at risk by going up there," said Medrano.

"We are absolutely not checking anybody's residency status nor would the Salinas Police Department ever check somebody's residency status. We're not in the business of that, we're just wanting to make sure people aren't drinking and driving," said Sgt. Terry Gerhardstein, with Salinas Police Department.

This isn't the first time Salinas police have encountered Medrano and his friends. They started Salas Copwatch or Salinas Copwatch about two months ago.

"I seen a person get Tasered three of four times by police. I have seen people get cars taken away. I've seen officers not respecting people," Medrano said.

The group trails Salinas police, Monterey County sheriff's deputies and the California Highway Patrol throughout the city, videotaping their response times, arrests, car stops and even records them walking with prostitutes and then posts the videos on YouTube.

In one of their videos the group identifies CHP officers who ask them not to record.

"They approach us and say what we're doing is putting their lives and our lives in danger but you're a community servant," Medrano said. "A lot of people in Salinas feel that way too, as far as ... let's tell it as it is. We have white police officers patrolling Salinas."

For Medrano, the issue is racism. He said Salinas Copwatch is devoted to keeping police officers on their toes, especially when dealing with undocumented workers and with young Hispanic men who may look or dress like gangsters.

"People are not out there calling them out. That's why we want youth and farm workers to know they have rights," Medrano said.

Rights are what Medrano, a Hartnell student, said he felt he was stripped of when he was 14. That's when he said his distrust for Salinas police officers began.

"He started right in front of people, what's it called, searching me, seeing if I had tattoos, you know, to me, it was a shameful way to treat a person you know," Madero said.

But Salinas police, who said they've noticed Copwatch following them, are hoping the group will have a change of heart.

"It's too bad they couldn't come down here and concentrate on the good we're doing," Gerhardstein said.

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