Thread: Milford chief, church aim to build a bridge after death

Milford chief, church aim to build a bridge after Denice's death

By Brian Benson/Daily News staff
Milford Daily News
Posted Sep 23, 2011 @ 01:17 AM

MILFORD —
Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin last night encouraged residents of all races to talk freely with police, insisted the department is not targeting Ecuadoreans and reiterated his support for the federal Secure Communities program.

O'Loughlin said that, following the death of Matthew Denice, his department has received reports of people yelling "Go home" to Ecuadoreans, threatening them or throwing things at them. No one has filed formal complaints.

"We're being observant and attempting to intervene in those situations," he told about 50 people gathered at Freedom Life Church. "If you know someone who has those types of difficulties, even if they don't want to pursue it, come and let us know."

O'Loughlin's remarks came at a forum held in response to Denice's death. The 23-year-old Milford resident died last month after Nicolas D. Guaman, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador who was driving drunk, struck Denice's motorcycle, police say.

Several people who attended last night's forum, including Denice's stepfather, Michael Maloney, said afterward that the community has taken a step forward.

"I think if everyone works together, we can make progress (with illegal immigration) and drunk-driving issues," Maloney said.

Mildred Medina, 51, of Milford, who is Puerto Rican, said, "I believe a bridge has been built within the community."

The Rev. Hector Quinones said the bilingual church serves people from 15 different nationalities, including some Ecuadoreans.

"Our purpose here tonight is to have a time of peaceful dialogue, and we owe this responsibility and this privilege to the memory of Matthew Denice," Quinones said.

He said some members of the Ecuadorean community were worried about how their presence would be received and decided not to come.

Jonathan Leon, 30, who is Ecuadorean and has lived in Milford for six years, said he hasn't experienced any of what O'Loughlin described but has friends who feel they have been the target of hate.

Leon said what Guaman allegedly did is wrong. But it has made it difficult for Ecuadoreans such as himself who love Milford and are trying to support their family.

"We're here because we need work," he said after the meeting. "We need to make bread for our family."

Leon asked O'Loughlin about what he perceives as an increase in the number of people pulled over for driving without a license because they look Ecuadorean.

O'Loughlin said that has not happened. In the past four and a half years, he said, the department has issued an average of about one complaint a day for driving without a license. In 18 days since Denice's death that O'Loughlin examined, the department issued 21 citations for driving without a license.

"I understand there's a perception of that kind of profiling taking place," he said. "I don't believe it's done, and I believe it's not done because it's unconstitutional. I take a lot of criticism in just saying that, believe me."

O'Loughlin said he does not see the problem of unlicensed driving going away soon because it could take hundreds of years for federal immigration authorities to remove the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country.

The department has officers who speak Spanish who try to reach out to the Ecuadorean community for police matters and other subjects, such as how to get permits for gatherings in town parks, he said.

The chief also reiterated his support for Secure Communities, a controversial federal initiative that facilitates sharing of information between federal authorities and local police.

"It removes the very bias that you asked about," O'Loughlin said, referring to concerns that Latinos are being targeted by police because of their ethnicity. "It doesn't matter who you are."

Under Secure Communities, the department would automatically receive immigration information on anyone who is arrested, he said.

Brian Benson can be reached at 508-634-7582 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/feature ... ices-death

"Our purpose here tonight is to have a time of peaceful dialogue, and we owe this responsibility and this privilege to the memory of Matthew Denice," Quinones said.

I notice there's nothing from the Denice family in this story, just the typical sob stories about the illegals feelings. What we OWE to Matthew Denice is to root out all the illegals and send them packing! I don't care how long they've been here, or what their life is like... they broke the law by jumping the border and they CONTINUE to break the law every day they are here!