Troopers angry over alleged quotas

04:40 PM CST on Tuesday, December 23, 2008

By Rucks Russell / 11 News

HOUSTON—A Department of Public Safety trooper says he and some of his colleagues have been forced to fulfill immigration enforcement duties and comply with illegal quotas.

The trooper, who wishes to remain anonymous, is outraged.

The policy in question is spelled out in documents obtained by 11 News.

The first memo discusses the so-called image verification system cases. It says troopers must turn in at least two of those cases per week.

The second memo threatens to suspend time off entitlements and secondary employment for troopers who refuse to comply.

The author of the memos is Region 2A Captain Jerome Powell. 11 News first told you about Powell several months ago when he issued another memo that seemed to establish quotas.

Under state law, quotas for law enforcement agencies are illegal, and DPS is not in charge of immigration enforcement.

“It’s not the DPS’ business in the State of Texas to control our borders. It’s the job of the federal government,â€