Thread: Memo on immigration frustrates officers

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=4755425

Memo on immigration frustrates officers
Some say it ties their hands
By Christine Dobbyn

(11/12/06 - KTRK/SOUTH HOUSTON, TX) - A memo sent from a police chief to his officers about immigration is causing some confusion and frustration. Officers in the city of South Houston got the memo from their chief, but some say the words in the memo tie their hands when it comes to checking immigration status.

The memo went to captains, sergeants, detectives, and patrol officers. It starts by saying, "From this day forward, there will be no more routine investigations of individuals who you think are illegal immigrants unless there is a confirmed hit from INS that's placed on the individual by INS via computer."

The words were unnerving to some officers. One who asks to remain anonymous tells Eyewitness News, "Officers are scared, so we don't want to check the immigration status of anyone now. We fear discipline or even termination"

"That really sends a red flag up in my head," said former Chief of South Houston Police Bill Butera.

Butera says some officers were so concerned that they came to him.

"They take it as though it's directed at them, that they can't do their job out on the street and that they're handcuffed," said Butera.

South Houston Police Chief Herbert Gilbert says the memo is being misinterpreted, that he's talking about the policies at the city's jail.

"My point here was an in-house issue where I didn't want officers going into the jail and actively seeking out persons they may think are illegal immigrants," he said.

Chief Gilbert says he wrote the memo to remind officers of a policy that's been in effect for years after an officer was found randomly checking the immigration status on inmates at the city's jail.

"If one officer arrests someone, we don't allow another officer to get involved in his case because it's the other officer's arrest," said Chief Gilbert.

But Butera say the memo has left a lot of frustrated officers on the streets.

"If I was an officer over there and read that out of my email, I'd think it was directed at me and not the jail," he said.

Chief Gilbert says if his officers are confused, he'll find out and sit down and talk to them individually. He maintains that if an officer arrests an individual, the arresting officer -- and only that officer -- can call for an immigration check.

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First in Texas
A suburb of Dallas could soon be the first city in Texas to adopt an ordinance to keep illegal immigrants out. The city council in Farmers Branch will consider the proposal Monday. It includes banning landlords from leasing to illegal immigrants, penalizing businesses that employ undocumented workers, and making English the city's official language. Other towns across the country have adopted similar ordinances, including more than a dozen in Pennsylvania and some in California.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

Wow, so soon after that officer was shot? It just shows
the hierarchy feels they owe their jobs to this horde of
plunderers & their masters.

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The mailing address for the South Houston Police Department is:
South Houston Police Department
1023 Dallas St.
South Houston, TX 77587

For life threatening situations, dial 911.

The non-emergency phone line for the South Houston Poice Department is 713-944-1916.

If you are in the city and would like to speak to someone in person, the front office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For city matters and ordinances, contact City Hall at 713-947-7700.

For your convenience you can email any questions/comments to administration@southhoustonpolice.org

GILBERT: chief@southhoustonpolice.org

Capt. Howard: captain@southhoustonpolice.org