Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Posts
    378

    Houston Police Union takes on city immigration policy

    HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Houston Police Officer's Union is once again asking Houston Mayor Bill White and police Chief Harold Hurtt to revoke the city's policy that prevents officers from making inquiries into someone's legal status with probable cause.
    A letter addressed to Mayor White, stating the union's case, was sent to him today. This afternoon, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is meeting with federal, local, and state law enforcement representatives to address the many concerns impacting deportations of undocumented immigrants.
    This meeting was called as a result of the two Houston police officers killed in the line of duty by undocumented immigrants.
    ABC13 Reporter Andy Cerota is working on this story and will have the very latest on Eyewitness News beginning at 4pm.


    Below is the letter sent by the Houston Police Officers Union
    The Honorable Bill White
    P.O. Box 1562
    Houston, Texas 77251
    Dear Mayor White:
    The senseless death of Officer Henry Canales reminds all of us of just how dangerous HPD officers' careers can be. Officer Canales is the sixth HPD officer to die in the line of duty during your tenure as our mayor. During this same five-year period, our department has decreased in size from 5,182 total police officers to 5,167 police officers. This represents a net loss of 15 fewer officers at HPD than we had back in 2004. The magnitude of our current understaffed position is underscored by Chief Hurtt's own declaration (as recent as June 24, 2009) that HPD needs 6,400 police officers today. Obviously, the reality of our lack of true growth tells a much different story than the one you like to portray as it relates to hiring 1,300-plus officers during your term.
    Unfortunately, the demands for HPD emergency services have not slowed down and fewer officers are required to do more and more each year. Related to this, HPD officers are all too aware that we have serious officer safety issues related to unsafe one-officer units who are required to respond to dangerous situations with very little or no back-up. When you add to that the population density of Houston has increased significantly, any objective person can see that our department simply cannot stop hiring police officers; nor can it afford to embrace the extremely ill-advised overtime budget cuts authorized by Mayor White and approved by Houston City Council.
    Mayor, the bottom line is the two academy classes scheduled for to commence close to the conclusion of the FY 2010 budget year will not even keep up with the attrition level of the department during the same budget cycle. This means that we will have even fewer police officers working at HPD than we did when you were sworn in as mayor of our city in 2004.
    Additionally, as it relates to the on-going problems HPD officers have related to illegal aliens who commit crimes in our community, the magnitude of the problem keeps increasing. As most people know, the suspect who shot and killed Officer Canales was living in the United States of America illegally. As unbelievable as it sounds, the suspect possessed a valid Texas drivers license issued by the state of Texas. Sadly, another one of the suspects arrested fleeing the scene of Officer Canales' slaying also possessed a valid Texas drivers license.
    The federal government has failed miserably and our governor has not helped law enforcement by enabling citizens in our country illegally to have valid state-issued identification. Combine that with HPD's outdated policy of preventing police officers from questioning suspects (where probable cause exists) related to criminal activity if the person is in the United States legally.
    The trifecta failure of our national, state, and local governments to protect citizens and police officers from continuing to be victimized by criminals who are in the United States illegally must be stopped.
    We are not so naive to believe that years of failed policies can be corrected overnight---especially since the issue of dealing with illegal alien criminals within our current system is so complex. Excuses can't be tolerated another day and must be addressed in a reasonable, yet firm, way.
    That said, the Houston Police Officers' Union calls on Mayor White and our city council to order Chief Hurtt to drop the Houston Police Department's outdated policy that does not allow police officers to make inquiries, with probable cause, into a person's legal status in the United States of America. Furthermore, for the safety of our citizens and our members who are required to do a very dangerous job, with little or no back-up, we call on the mayor and city council to meet in emergency session and authorize spending for four more HPD academy training classes during the FY 2010 fiscal year and increase overtime to the authorized amount for FY2009.
    Our department and its loyal and dedicated police officers need help, not reasons, why it can't be done. There is not a more important priority for our city.
    Sincerely,
    Gary Blankinship
    President
    cc: Houston City Council
    Houston Police Officers' Union Board of Directors
    Harris County Legislative Delegation

    http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?secti ... id=6895784

  2. #2
    Senior Member laughinglynx's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Northern California (moved back to fight for our land and freedom)
    Posts
    666
    Phoenix Police did the same thing. Then then police chief Harris blew them off. I think they make it so difficult for the officers that they just decide to lay low.

    You gotta wonder about the chief of police condoning breaking of the law.

  3. #3
    Senior Member WorriedAmerican's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    4,498
    With all the crap Obama spews on TV DAILY I might add,
    he said it is his job to follow the Constitution and apply the laws of the land.

    THEN how can HE or ANYONE stop police from doing their jobs?

    PLUS illegal immgration is addressed in it, isn't it?
    If Palestine puts down their guns, there will be peace.
    If Israel puts down their guns there will be no more Israel.
    Dick Morris

  4. #4
    Senior Member bigtex's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    3,362
    Before Bill White was Mayor HPD had a policy of having two officers in each patrol unit at night and in high crime areas. Bill White changed all of that. Six officers died during his time in office. I don't know how he sleeps at night.
    Certified Member
    The Sons of the Republic of Texas

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •