October 20, 2008


Fort Collins police chief Harrison named to state panel reviewing immigration enforcement efforts

By Coloradoan staff

Fort Collins police Chief Dennis Harrison has been named to a state panel examining gaps in immigration-enforcement laws.

Gov. Bill Ritter convened the panel following two car crashes in Aurora last month involving two illegal immigrants. One of the crashes resulted in the deaths of three people.

The panel meets in Golden tomorrow, and is charged with offering solutions to gaps in local, state and federal immigration laws and enforcement.

The full release is below:

IMMIGRATION/PUBLIC SAFETY WORKING GROUP MEETS TUESDAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, OCT. 20, 2008
CONTACTS

Lance Clem, 303.239.4415, lance.clem@cdps.state.co.us
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370, evan.dreyer@state.co.us

IMMIGRATION/PUBLIC SAFETY WORKING GROUP MEETS TUESDAY



A working group convened by Gov. Bill Ritter to examine public-safety and immigration-enforcement gaps in local, state and federal laws will hold its first meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 21, 200.



The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the training room at the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, 500 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden.



Gov. Ritter directed Colorado Department of Public Safety Executive Director Pete Weir to establish the working group last month following two traffic crashes in Aurora, including one crash that resulted in the deaths of three people. Both crashes involved drivers residing in Colorado in violation of federal immigration laws.

The 31-member panel of law enforcement officials, policymakers and community stakeholders will meet at least five times through Nov. 17. A report from the working group is due to Gov. Ritter by the end of December.

Members of the working group include:



Chief Dan Brennan, Wheat Ridge Police Department
Lt. Col. Doyle Eicher, Colorado State Patrol
Troy Eid, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado
Capt. Kevin Eldridge, Colorado State Patrol
Sheriff Doug Darr, Adams County
Chief Dennis Harrison, Fort Collins Police Services
Sheriff Stan Hilkey, Mesa County
Roxanne Huber, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Revenue
Hon. Jim Kerr, Representative, Colorado General Assembly
Hon. Steve King, Representative, Colorado General Assembly
Maj. Brenda Leffler, Colorado State Patrol
Sheriff Terry Maketa, El Paso County
Patricia Medige, Colorado Legal Services
Hon. John Morse, Senator, Colorado General Assembly
Chief Dan Oates, Aurora Police Department
Sheriff Grayson Robinson, Arapahoe County
Hon. Andrew Romanoff, Speaker, House of Representatives, Colorado General Assembly
L. Antoinette Salazar, Salazar & Associates
Kathy Sasak, Deputy Director, Colorado Department of Public Safety
Hon. Dave Schultheis, Senator, Colorado General Assembly
Ron Sloan, Director, Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Hon. Scott Storey, District Attorney, 1st Judicial District
Hon. John Suthers, Colorado Attorney General
Amber J. Tafoya, Esq., Colorado Immigrant Rights
Ann Terry, Colorado Department of Public Safety, Executive Director's Office

Hon. Nancy Todd, Representative, Colorado General Assembly
Sheriff Lou Vallario, Garfield County
Stephanie Villafuerte, Deputy Chief of Staff, Governor’s Office
Peter Weir, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Public Safety
Chief Gerald Whitman, Denver Police Department

Ari Zavaras, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Corrections



The group will work to identify solutions that can be enacted at the local and state levels, including:



· Identifying the problems faced by local and state law enforcement relative to the enforcement of the state and municipal criminal laws involving illegal immigrants.



· Identifying information gaps and barriers to sharing criminal justice and immigration status information among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.



· Discussing whether there are specific statutory or other changes that might address some of the problems.



· Facilitating a discussion of policy recommendations to the federal government to address the problems identified by local and state law enforcement.



Following Tuesday’s meeting, the working group is tentatively scheduled to meet:



A. Oct. 31, 1 to 5 p.m.

Jefferson County D.A.s Office – 500 Jefferson County Parkway



B. Nov. 6, 1 to 5 p.m.

Jefferson County D.A.s Office – 500 Jefferson County Parkway



C. Nov. 13, 1 to 5 p.m.

NETI – 12345 W. Alameda Parkway, Lakewood



D. Nov. 17, 1 to 5 p.m.

Jefferson County D.A.s Office – 500 Jefferson County Parkway


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