Note from William: The Charlotte Police Officer in this clip is the first officer I saw at the protest when I returned from the station around 4:30. He did point out two bike patrol officers hidden on the deck of a building above and behind us out of site.

What he FAILS to mention is that these two bike patrol officers and he arrived after I tried to file my complaint. One of the bike patrol officers he pointed out actually passed me on my way back to the protest.

W


Video at this link
http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/ ... 43&SecID=3

/27/2006 8:01 PM
By: Adam Shub, News 14 Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The leader of a political action committee has filed a complaint with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, saying there was inadequate security for Saturday’s immigration rally in Marshall Park.

William Gheen, the president of Americans for Legal Immigration, was unhappy with the police presence at the park, calling it a “reckless endangerment of the public.”

The rally, which included thousands of people, threw massive support behind a Senate bill that gives illegal immigrants a path to citizenship and ensures them equal education.

"The city of Charlotte allowed 5,000 people to gather in the center of the city without a single visible police officer to be found,” said Gheen, who leads a group that is committed to stopping illegal immigration.

Gheen said he called police but that officers headed to the park only after he showed up in person at CMPD headquarters.

At a news conference Monday, the CMPD defended its handling of what it called a “very peaceful” event.

"Actually, I pointed out officers to (Gheen) on site,” Capt. Eddie Levins said. “Obviously, he wasn't satisfied with that."

According to the city attorney, it’s up to the police to decide how many officers to deploy. There’s no predetermined number, even for a demonstration of several thousand people.

One of the rally’s organizers, Adriana Galvez-Taylor, believes Gheen had a different motive for filing the complaint, which also went to the Charlotte City Council: "To make us look like we were potentially dangerous."

Galvez-Taylor said the rally was well-planned and that all the necessary steps were taken, including getting a permit.

Gheen said he would wait for a response from the CMPD before he decides on any legal action.