Posted on 04/11/2008 8:38:14 AM PDT by radar101
Mesa Police Chief George Gascón unveiled more of his plan Thursday to minimize civil unrest when and if Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio brings his anti-immigration sweeps into the city.
Cooperation or clash between Arpaio, Gascon: (http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/113400)
The strategy includes asking for the help of clergy and the legal community.
Gascón wrote in a memo to his department Thursday that a group of about 15 pro-Arpaio protesters held demonstrations in Mesa Thursday near Gilbert and Broadway roads. One protester yelled out a racial slur at a black man and another brought along a pit bull that snapped at police officers.
“This incident, as well as others during prior sweeps are clear indications of the volatility that can be visited upon our city as these events continue to unfold,” Gascón wrote.
The memo said police intend to videotape the events and request the help of the legal community and local clergy to serve as mediators in the crowds.
Gascón acknowledged the constitutional rights of the community to share their political views through demonstrations, but also wrote that Mesa police have a responsibility to make sure residents and police officers are safe.
Gascón has recently mandated departmentwide uniform and equipment inspections as part of his plan.
Sgt. Fabian Cota, president of the Mesa Police Association, one of the department’s two unions, said his members were at first confused about why they had to get all their equipment suddenly inspected, but quickly understood after reading Gascon’s memo.
“I think it lends a lot to the fact of how serious the department is taking it, that the potential for violence is there,” Cota said. “You have an issue that is emotionally charged, you have factions of groups showing up, some of them armed. ... You have racial overtures in there. That’s all the ingredients for civil unrest.”
Rabbi Maynard Bell, who hadn’t yet heard Thursday that Gascón was seeking the help of religious leaders, said the sweeps “may technically be legal,” but questioned whether everyone is aware of their human impact.
Bell, executive director of the Phoenix Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, joined six other Valley religious leaders representing major faiths in a statement Thursday urging Arpaio to reconsider the “wisdom and morality” of his sweeps.
Arpaio still hasn’t announced when he plans to conduct a sweep in Mesa, but has said he plans to notify Gascón and work with his agency.
Arpaio said Wednesday he has received more than 800 letters, many from Mesa residents, asking him to arrest illegal immigrants in their city.
Also, state Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, and other legislators invited deputies to come to the East Valley.
More than a week ago, Arpaio set up his command center at the southeast facility of Maricopa County Jail, located at Mesa Drive south of U.S. 60, as he geared up to conduct recent sweeps for illegal immigrants in Guadalupe.
That sweep drew protesters, but Arpaio said no violence occurred.
Gascón said in his memo that counter-demonstrators have been observed carrying firearms and that tensions are escalating.
He reminded his officers to “stand ready to protect our community.”
“another brought along a pit bull that snapped at police officers”
He he only once.
Because Gascon (Hispanic) and his Sgt. Fabian Cota(Hispanic) will not do it.
Gascón said in his memo that counter-demonstrators have been observed carrying firearms and that tensions are escalating.
Demonizing Arpaio, and anyone else who wants to enforce the lam.
I wish that there were more guys like Sheriff Joe.
Who’se side is Gascón on?
Does not seem to be the REGISTRED VOTERS.
Guadalupe has been a haven for illegals for decades.
Crime statistics just released in Arizona show that 60% of the murders are “brown on brown” crimes and 50% of those perps are illegals!
Also it was claimed that of the 350 abductions reported (estimated to be a third of the actual number), the victims were almost ALL Mexicans.
I second the motion!
Good doggie...
To: Mesa Police Chief George Gascón
Subject: Illegal Alien Immigrant Sweeps
Please be advised that due to your office not performing the sworn duties of your office by yourself and the non-performance of your department in identifying and removing of unlawful residents, aka illegal aliens, in your jurisdiction my office will be conducting unannounced immigration sweeps throughout your service area.
Be advised that my deputies will be conducting surveillance operations and making arrests over the next 12-24 month period. I'm sure you will understand the need to keep the specific dates, times and locations to a need-to-know basis and quite frankly sir you or your department does not need to know at this time. If you can be off assistance to my deputies or to my office in the future I will be in contact with you.
Cordially,
Sheriff J. Arpaio
Gascon is former LAPD, home of Special Order 40.
\ Inadvertently you have coined a new phrase, The Lam. Arresting these law breaking a**hats will send many of them on The Lam. An old term meaning a criminal is running from the law.
Ping!
Cojones! I love it!!!!!!
Er, yup.
Garden Variety sleazy, corrupt LAPD thugs, both of them.
And we all know what ethnicity they favor: the one in the mirror.
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