Posted at: 04/01/2009 5:22 PM


Roswell Hispanics claim police racial profiling

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Roswell residents' complaints about racial profiling of Hispanics by police officers have prompted a state advocacy group to request intervention from the U.S. Justice Department and the state attorney general's office.

The League of United Latin American Citizens New Mexico director Paul Martinez has sent a letter asking the Justice Department and the state attorney general to assess the situation.

LULAC says the police department requires Hispanics to provide Social Security numbers and documents proving their immigration status.

Roswell Police Chief Robert Smith says the complaints lack details and cannot be substantiated.

Smith denies his officers are discriminating against Hispanics and are aware that racial profiling is wrong.

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S861397.shtml