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Federal immigration agent will assist in police efforts
Friday, October 28, 2005
By WENDY REEVES
Times Staff Writer wendyr@htimes.com
Help sought after illegal alien accused in officer's death

A federal immigration and customs agent is being assigned to the Huntsville area following Police Chief Rex Reynolds' request to the agency for help with crimes committed by illegal aliens.

Reynolds made a request to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the fatal shooting of officer Daniel Golden, allegedly by illegal immigrant Benito Albarran on Aug. 29.

"I'm encouraged by the fact they have committed an agent to this area," Reynolds said Thursday. He's still waiting to hear whether local officers will receive federal training to learn how to recognize false documentation by illegal aliens and authorize officers' access to immigration records.

Community volunteer Pascual Rico said most of the local Hispanic leaders are supportive of the chief's efforts.

"We want law and order, and we want our families to feel safe," Rico said. "And we want our police to have the tools, training and authority to deal with anyone who commits a criminal act."

Rico said when the illegal Hispanic criminal element learns a city is a safe haven it will move in. That's not what local Hispanic leaders want to see happen in Huntsville, he said.

Working as a translator with domestic violence victims, Rico said a woman in Florence told him her husband was a drug trafficker. As local authorities there began to know his identity, he changed his name and moved to Huntsville.

"I think he did it because he feels safe here because there is no authority," Rico said. And that's why most local Hispanic leaders are supportive of Reynolds, he added.

Reynolds said he met with the new immigration agent earlier this week and believes once the agent gets moved and settled, the two agencies will be able to identify what type of training local officers need.

Since the slaying of Golden, Reynolds said he's primarily concerned about officers being able to discern illegal documents.

Meanwhile, the chief is also taking steps to build better working relationships with the Hispanic community. The department is in the process of translating all of its forms into Spanish.

On Wednesday night, the department held its first translation night in which volunteers from local Hispanic coalitions helped those who are not fluent in English to report crimes.

Rico said no one attended the program, but he believes in time members of the Hispanic community will learn more about the program and take advantage of it.