Thread: NC: Hispanics and Police

Hispanics and Police

JOURNAL EDITORIAL STAFF

Published: September 28, 2008

Scott Cunningham, Winston-Salem's new police chief, made a bold and needed move last week when he told local Hispanics that his department's primary responsibility is protecting residents and arresting criminals -- not enforcing federal immigration laws. The department certainly needs more cooperation from Hispanic residents to solve crimes. But the chief should also make clear that once Hispanics who are arrested are found to be in this country illegally, his department will make every effort to work with federal authorities to have them deported.

In front of a crowd of Hispanics Wednesday night, Cunningham indicated he'd do that. But he also opened the door to better cooperation from Hispanics, especially ones new to this country. "The police department is interested in the safety of everyone," Cunningham told the crowd, the Journal's John Hinton reported. "How you got here is not our primary concern. You are here, and we want to protect you."

For years, the city police department has had a hard time making inroads in Hispanic neighborhoods. New arrivals often come from places where police are corrupt. Some tend to distrust city police as well. And, of course, many are scared of being deported.

They should be. But they should know that their problem is with federal officials, not the local police. The local department has neither the mandate nor the manpower to round up all the illegal immigrants who live within Hispanic neighborhoods in Winston-Salem. Roundups aren't its duty. But protecting all residents, including Hispanic ones, is.

And the department can't do that without cooperation from Hispanics. It needs their trust and cooperation in solving such crimes as burglaries and murders, both in Hispanic neighborhoods and in the city at large. Cunningham has started on the hard path toward building that trust.

"If someone tells you that you can't call the police because you will be deported, that is not true," he told the Hispanics who came to the meeting sponsored by the Waughtown Business Association. "We want you to trust us."

The chief listened as Hispanics complained about slow-response times to crimes they've reported. Cunningham said Spanish-speaking officers will work with the residents on their concerns.

The department wants to reduce crime throughout the city. "The crime level is unacceptable," the chief said. "We should work to stop that. If one person is not safe, then none of us are safe."

He's right. And gaining the trust of Hispanics is part of improving public safety. Police should give them the same respect and help they'd give any other residents. But people who are here illegally should know that if they get into trouble and are arrested, their status will likely mean that they will be deported.
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008 ... e/opinion/

The department wants to reduce crime throughout the city. "The crime level is unacceptable," the chief said. "We should work to stop that. If one person is not safe, then none of us are safe."

Deport them all and the crime level would come down.