Thread: Two Arizona police officers file suit against state/ Poll

As politicians and pundits debate Arizona's controversial anti-illegal immigration law, police in the state are caught in the middle - and exchanging fire.

Two police officers are challenging the law in court, fearing the bill will ultimately force cops to racially profile Hispanics.

"Before the signing of this bill, citizens would wave at me," said David Salgado, a 19-year Phoenix police officer who has sued the city and the governor, asking that the law be blocked, according to the Associated Press. "Now they don't even want to make eye contact."

Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris, a critic of the law, told AP: "When you get a law that leads a state down this path, where the enforcement is targeted to a particular segment of the population, it's very difficult not to profile."

"It takes officers away from doing what our main core mission is, and that is to make our community safe," Harris said recently to Phoenix's KSAZ Fox 10 News.

The cops are at odds with police unions, who argue the law clearly states race cannot be used as a factor.

"Crime is not based upon skin color, it's based upon conduct," said Mark Spencer, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, the union representing Phoenix officers that lobbied aggressively for the law, the AP reported.

According to the Arizona Republic, law enforcement leaders from Maryland, California and Nevada have also stated their opposition to the immigration law.

"We'd be losing a lot more than we'd be gaining if we had to undertake federal immigration responsibilities," Montgomery County, Maryland Police Chief J. Thomas Manger told the newspaper.

Nevada Sheriff Mike Haley said, "Any unfunded mandate, any direction by the federal government, that I use my precious resources to affect a federal outcome would affect my ability to do what the taxpayers in my county have asked me to do, and that is to keep them safe from criminals."

Arizona's effort to secure its border from illegal immigrants, which defenders call a necessity because of the lack of federal action, continues to draw criticisms in the form of protests and boycotts.

Seattle has joined several other U.S. cities – including Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles - in protesting Arizona's sweeping new immigration law.

Meanwhile, states such as Texas, Utah, Oklahoma and Maryland are considering similar anti-illegal immigration legislation.

msheridan@nydailynews.com



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa ... z0oJXoxFZ6

Remember, there is already this officer in Tucson who filed suit, too


TUCSON - A Tucson police officer is now challenging the new immigration law signed by the governor.

Under the new law, it's a violation to be in Arizona without proper documentation.

Police can question people about their immigration status if they have reasonable suspicion.

Also, foreign nationals will have to carry proof of legal residency.

Martin Escobar is exercising his rights as an American citizen to speak out against Senate Bill 1070. The 15-year veteran is challenging the immigration bill that is scheduled to be law within 90 days.

He says, "I feel strongly about this, sometimes you just got to stand-up and voice your feelings as far as what's going on."

What's going on in Escobar's opinion is unfair, and unjust.

Escobar was born in Magdalena, Sonora and immigrated into the United States when he was 5.

He works patrol on the south side, an area that is 50 percent Hispanic.

In the lawsuit filed in federal court, he believes: SB 1070 is the product of racial bias aimed specifically at Hispanics, is unlawful, results in impermissible deprivations of rights guaranteed by the United States constitution.

His attorney Richard Martinez says, "Police officers are being required to do things that require their post certifications at risk. That could subject them to discipline. The statue subjects every police officer to a law suit for not making immigration inquires."

Tucson Police Officers Association President Larry Lopez wants to make it clear, Martin Escobar doesn't speak for the department.

"We have officers who agree, we have officers who disagree, but the bottom line we took an oath to protect the community we also took oaths to enforce all laws in the state of Arizona."

Escobar realizes that.

"I will have to do what I have to do. Do I agree with it no, I don't, do if have do it in the capacity as a police officer yes I do."

Richard Martinez says this isn't the only lawsuit that will be filed in the state of Arizona he expects
Other law enforcement officers to follow.

Escobar says he is not speaking on behalf of the department only himself as a citizen.


http://www.kvoa.com/news/police-officer ... r-sb-1070/

Are these both hispanic officers acting like racial sheep?

Escobar must be let go because of conflict of interest plain and simple.If he feels so strongly about his convictions then be a man and resign.

Police Department
www.phoenix.gov
620 West Washington Street,
Phoenix, Arizona
(602) 262-7626


Tucson Police Department
http://tpdinternet.tucsonaz.gov
270 S. Stone Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701-1917
520-791-4444

Escobar's supervisor told me on the phone earlier that he knows him and doesnt think he will fail to do his duty when the law goes into effect.

He also told me that he is like any other american and can still sue because of his rights.

Obviously, if it can be proven that he refuses to enforce this law, then other actions can be taken

Originally Posted by jamesw62

Escobar's supervisor told me on the phone earlier that he knows him and doesnt think he will fail to do his duty when the law goes into effect.

He also told me that he is like any other american and can still sue because of his rights.

Obviously, if it can be proven that he refuses to enforce this law, then other actions can be taken

One can assume he does not want to enforce 1070............Therefore, the lawsuit.

Originally Posted by TakingBackSoCal

Originally Posted by jamesw62

Escobar's supervisor told me on the phone earlier that he knows him and doesnt think he will fail to do his duty when the law goes into effect.

He also told me that he is like any other american and can still sue because of his rights.

Obviously, if it can be proven that he refuses to enforce this law, then other actions can be taken

One can assume he does not want to enforce 1070............Therefore, the lawsuit.

and i brought that up to the officer i was talking to and he said not to worry, that he will enforce it.
i said that i hope that since its coming from a cop. and the cop is suing how one could think that the officer in question has no intentions of ever enforcing the law