Officer Rodney Johnson, HPD.
Posted on 09/25/2006 10:13:36 PM PDT by anymouse
Just hours after it became known that the accused killer of a Houston police officer was an illegal Mexican immigrant, top city officials braced themselves for another round of criticism of the city's policies toward illegal immigrants.
Houston police officer Rodney Johnson was shot four times in the head during a traffic stop last week. Investigators say Juan Leonardo Quintero, a Mexican national living in the United States illegally has confessed to killing Johnson, a father of five. Quintero had been deported once and crossed the border illegally again.
U.S. Rep John Culberson, R-Houston, reminded the public Monday of his efforts to cut off federal law-enforcement funds to the Houston Police Department if it refused to change its "sanctuary policy."
Since 1992, the police department has barred officers from asking people who aren't under arrest about their immigration status. The order also prohibits them from arresting people solely based on suspicion that they are in the country illegally. Police do check the immigration status of those arrested on Class B misdemeanor or more serious charges.
Congressional candidate Shelley Sekula-Gibbs called on Houston Mayor Bill White to immediately revoke the policy, which she said "protects the illegal criminal instead of protecting the citizens."
But White's administration, long accustomed to criticism of the policy from conservative politicians and talk radio hosts, said the city will not change its policy and blamed federal officials for failing to protect the U.S.-Mexico border.
Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt has said repeatedly that Johnson's killing has nothing to do with the city's policy regarding illegal immigrants and everything to do with the federal government's failure to secure the border with Mexico.
"If the government fulfilled their responsibility of protecting the border, we would not probably be standing here today," Hurtt said soon after the shooting. Quintero had been deported in 2004 after being granted deferred adjudication on a charge of indecency with a child.
Had the federal government been able to secure the border, Hurtt said, "It would have been very difficult, if not impossible, for that individual to get back in this country."
Sekula-Gibbs, a Houston city councilwoman running a write-in campaign for the seat vacated by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, said Hurtt "must take responsibility for his actions. Finger pointing doesn't help. That attitude (towards inquiring about immigration status) has gotten us into this terrible situation. What is the problem with enforcing these laws?"
Sekula-Gibbs' position on the issue has hardened considerably since she became a candidate for Congress. During a similar City Council debate on the policy in November, Sekula-Gibbs accused a colleague wanting to abandon the policy of a "political stunt" and told the Houston Chronicle she had no "strong opinion" about changing the police department's sanctuary policy.
Culberson, however, has consistently identified border security as one of his top issues, and he warned Monday that Houston, Dallas and Austin stand to lose millions of dollars in federal grants if they don't change their policies.
Culberson's amendment to the House appropriations bill would block all federal grants to any city not specifically allowing law enforcement officers to question anyone they stop about their citizenship status. Culberson said he would suggest that everyone stopped should be asked about their status to avoid racial profiling accusations. From there, he said, "It's Law Enforcement 101. We trust the officers to use their good judgment."
The White administration sees Culberson's bill as the ultimate unfunded mandate, cutting off badly needed federal law enforcement money to force the city's hand, White spokesman Frank Michel said.
I'm sure she's great at clearing up zits and such.
Now, be fair. Zits aren't the only thing clogging our pores around TX! ;o)
How about a wrongful death suit against the city and the local politicos who put the sanctuary policy in place, the federal govt, and the Govt of Mexico?
Hit them where it hurts.
where are you?
Laws are only as good as the people enforcing them. The police should do it anyway. Yall can't fire all of them if they stand together.
The only problem with that, which BTW is a fantastic idea...Is that how will we ever "really" know who would hire such a scumbag in the firstplace, and would it be worth it to slap a lawsuit on them???
If its XYZ Lawnservice company...I'm sure they'll hock up all their lawnmowers and blowers to buy a few hours of a lawyers time, and then what...
I'm not being critical of you personally, its just that I see this not going very far to be effective other than someday in the future at about 6pm, they be applying the alcohol swab to make sure the area is clean before they stick this needle in him and bolus some fatal drugs into him to send him on his way...
Ironic isn't it???
You don't have to sue the employer if you can't locate them, though this would be my first choice. And a small to medium business doesn't want that kind of legal trouble...being held responsible for a preventable death?
VERY expensive.
The sanctuary policy mandated by the city encourages illegal immigrants to locate to the area. You could say the city councilpersons have irresponsibly created an "attractive nuisance" which has resulted in someone's murder. I would think that they are in a very weak position legally, given that this policy is in direct violation of established federal law.
Hold them responsible in civil court, and get an expensive judgement. Will it be effective? How many city councils have knuckled under to the ACLU because they don't want to get dragged into expensive litigation?
Once you set a precendent that people harmed by the sanctuary policy can successfully sue for damages....watch other sanctuary cities either get hit for massive costs, or change their policies in self defense.
Won't stop all the problems, but it is one brick in the wall, so to speak.
Personally, if I were a lawyer, I would also institute a class action lawsuit against the city council for misuse of taxpayer funds, since I assume lots of illegal aliens are getting access to medical care, education, etc. that rightfully belongs to US citizens-a practice that can be directly traced to the sanctuary city policy.
It would almost be worth going to law school to see that happen.
She's on her way back to Baghdad.
"Once you set a precendent that people harmed by the sanctuary policy can successfully sue for damages...."
Bingo!
That the key, and the road to that goal is fraught with all sorts of legal bumps and holes, that very few lawyers are willing to commit to seeing through to a sucessful ruling...
But...Stranger things have happened...If the ACLU wants to challenge an effort to change this in Houston, after what has happened...I dare say that there are quite a few people outside the legal circle who would definitely tell the ACLU where to go in that regard...
Fortunately the border just got some added funding. That is reasonably good news. Lord knows Mexico has a wall against us gringos' ever becoming comfortable down there:
http://www.directory.com.mx/immigration
Can you believe how racist Mexico's immigration laws are against us gringos?
ON!
Hurtt is the typical Politician, Empire-Builder, hypocrite that I worked for as an Officer.
On one hand he says "I will not enforce the law" , and on the other "The Feds are not doing their job"
Politician= Gutless, spineless, caters to "Minorities", will not anger anyone outside his Department or jusidiction. However, it is O K to crap on his/her subordinates, and hand them over shark attorneys or pirhana review boards.
Officer Rodney Johnson, HPD.
BTTT
"U.S. Rep John Culberson, R-Houston, reminded the public Monday of his efforts to cut off federal law-enforcement funds to the Houston Police Department if it refused to change its "sanctuary policy.""
God bless him!
legal opinion?
'bout what in particular?
Thanks for posting the picture of the fallen officer Alouette. May God rest his soul and comfort his family.
Thanks!
Does this mean you support Lampson?
No.
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