PLEA Leader Expresses Sadness Over Officer's Death

September 19th, 2007 @ 2:20pm
by Jim Cross/KTAR

Shock and sadness from the president of the union representing more than 2,000 Phoenix police officers over the death of one of the Valley's finest.

The man who shot and killed Phoenix Police Officer Nick Erfle was deported last year. Then he came back and took the young officer's life.

Mark Spencer with the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association said it's a terrible tragedy and now it's personal.

"Someone who should have been on this side of the line is here and he's breaking the law," Spencer said. "Not only that, he's taking the life of a good, good person."

Spencer said most of the officers he represents feel handcuffed by the department's policy in dealing with illegal immigrants who carry out crimes.

"And for some its a political issue, but I tell you what there's a widow and two kids tonight that are taking this very personally," Spencer said.

Spencer said current policy is frustrating to the men and women on the frontlines in defense of homeland security.

"And I think we need to free them up to as many tools and as many resources as possible, because they are going to be the first ones on the scene," Spencer said.

An example of the tools needed are:

"They need easy access to ICE," Spence said. "They are restricted from having practical contact with ICE for assistance in dealing with immigration contact."

http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=598191