Thread: NJ-Morristown mayor urges union approval,deputize police off

Morristown mayor urges union approval to deputize police officers as immigration agents
by Tanya Drobness and Kevin Coughlin
Monday September 14, 2009, 7:46 PM

MORRISTOWN -- Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello said today he can't sign off on a federal program that will allow local officers to enforce federal immigration laws until the police union agrees to participate.

Cresitello said the PBA's approval is his "biggest hurdle," delaying his intention to sign off on the program, which he has advocated for since 2007.

Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello address the crowd attending a rally to support deputizing local police officers as immigration agents.
Cresitello, who leaves office Dec. 31, said there is also a "smaller hurdle," but he declined to say what it was.

The mayor said the PBA should agree to the program because immigrants have "committed murder in this town."

Citing the case of Porfirio Jimenez, an illegal immigrant from Honduras sentenced in February to life in prison for the murder of 10-year-old Walter Contreras Valenzuela on May 20, 2001, Cresitello said such killings should never happen in the community.

"I would expect that the union sees the benefit of the program in this community," Cresitello said today.

The PBA has formed a committee to study whether local police will agree to be deputized, according to a statement PBA President Daniel Widdis issued today.

"The members of PBA Local 43 stand committed to providing the highest level of professional service to all members of our community, respecting the rights of all persons as provided by law," the statement said.

In response, the PBA "has formed a committee to examine and research all aspects of this program in order to make an informed decision and to determine if participation in this program is in the best interests of our members and the community as a whole," the statement concludes.

Morristown, the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office and the Hudson County Department of Corrections are among 79 departments nationwide accepted into the federal program called 287(g).

Approval by the police union has been sought because deputized officers would have to commit to the program for at least two years, according to the memorandum of agreement between the town and the Department of Homeland Security.

Cresitello has said six of Morristown's 58 officers would undergo training this year that would empower them to start deportation proceedings against illegal aliens charged with serious crimes.

Immigrant rights groups have said the program would frighten immigrants from cooperating with police, and would harm relations with the Latino community.

Diana Mejia, whose Wind of the Spirit group opposes 287(g), said she hopes the police union considers "the importance of building bridges between police and community members."

She said she doubts 287(g) can work in Morristown when "it has failed everywhere else."

The program recently was revised after Congressional investigators criticized federal authorities for lax supervision.

Cresitello, who lost the June primary and will leave office in January, said he disagrees with the Obama administration's decision to let police unions decide whether to participate.

"President Obama's administration put in this new requirement of the program," Cresitello said. "He's the one running the show now, not the mayor of Morristown."

Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that the union would authorize members to take the training. And if it doesn't?

"Let's wait and see what we do," the Mayor said.


http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/0 ... .html#more

President Obama's administration put in this new requirement of the program," Cresitello said. "He's the one running the show now, not the mayor of Morristown

Obama's way of ensuring an upcoming amnesty for ILLEGAL ALIENS

Immigrant rights groups have said the program would frighten immigrants from cooperating with police, and would harm relations with the Latino community

That is because they know they are here ILLEGALLY. I am sorry but what are they speaking out for anyway. They have NO RIGHT being in this country!