Thread: FL-Cape Coral officers receiving ICE training

Cape Coral officers receiving ICE training
Posted: Apr 30, 2010 3:45 PM CDT
Updated: Apr 30, 2010 5:34 PM CDT


CAPE CORAL: Soon some Cape Coral Police officers will be trained to enforce the same laws as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The Cape Coral officers will be designated as customs officers and will be able to enforce laws they weren't able to unless an ICE agent was there.

ICE contacted Cape Coral Police about the program. As soon as the memorandum is signed, several of officers will receive two days of training that will allow them to enforce customs laws.

They will learn things like how to search for drugs being smuggled through on boats on our waterways.

"I can envision us working in the local waterways looking for illegal trafficking, whether it be from human trafficking or smuggling contraband, these are all federal violations and we can work together on them," said Cape Coral Police Chief Rob Petrovich.

Petrovich says it's another step in working together with federal agencies to keep our local community safe.

The Cape customs officers won't be able to enforce immigration laws. This program is different than the program Collier County deputies went through two years ago.

Collier County deputies who received ICE training can get illegal immigrants off the streets.

That program costs more money and requires more staff, things Cape Coral doesn't have.

"We've been reducing staffing levels in the current situation we're all dealing with, it just didn't allow us or afford us to have that level of commitment they have," said Petrovich.

Petrovich says the increased knowledge from working with ICE will still have an impact on the community.

"There are laws being violated that fall under ICE's purview and affect our community. I'm sure by having our officers on the front line contact of these situations it should be beneficial," said Petrovich.

The training is free for the department and the officers won't receive any extra compensation.

The agreement between ICE and the Cape Coral Police Department is expected to be signed May 10th.


http://www.abc-7.com/Global/story.asp?S=12406814

Collier County has a huge illegal problem due to all the farms in Immokalee so can see why they need the ability to remove them.