I’m sure you have all heard by now about a group called the “Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition” (CIRC) who, along with a local defense attorney has become the mouthpieces for a small group of criminals and those living in our community illegally. They have in recent weeks, with the support of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent, put out lies, propaganda and half-truths about your local law enforcement and our commitment to keeping our community safe. In fact, the GSPI was so quick to jump on this issue that they couldn’t even wait for a scheduled meeting with local law enforcement before inking their uninformed opinion on their editorial page. In addition to blatant lies regarding a couple of arrests that occurred at Strawberry Days in Glenwood Springs (the leader of their pack referred to it as “loose with the facts”), they have now stooped to degrading local School Resource Officers, bullying local school boards, and demonizing law enforcement agencies in an effort to promote their national agenda of immigration reform. What is most sad about this is that the very people they claim to be helping are being exploited by charging outrageous legal fees to defend them and pitting them against fellow members of their community causing unnecessary fear.
In addition to the lies and the frivolous lawsuit recently filed against me, my Deputies and other honorable Police Officers on behalf of an illegal alien, their latest tactic is to bully the local school board regarding the School Resource Officer position and who these officers or their agencies choose to collaborate with. This is an attempt to drive a wedge between local law enforcement and the schools with whom we have always had an excellent working relationship. By using bullying tactics and smear campaigns, they are hoping to scare our school boards into establishing so-called “policies” determining who an SRO assigned to their schools can and cannot associate with in terms of other law enforcement agencies. A School Resource Officer is a POLICE OFFICER first, then an SRO. To suggest that the local school board even has the authority to dictate to law enforcement such practices would be equivalent to me dictating to them how to teach algebra. I am confident that the local school boards understand this and will not succumb to such bullying.
The focus of this attempt to demonize law enforcement by CIRC is ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the local law enforcement collaboration with them. ICE is a federal law enforcement agency whose agents are charged with the responsibility of enforcement of immigration violations just as DEA is responsible for drug enforcement, FBI is responsible for investigating terrorists and the U. S. Marshals are responsible for tracking down fugitives. Just like your Sheriff’s Office and local Police Departments, they have the authority and responsibility to enforce the laws of this country and state.
None of us are “law-makers”. That’s what Congress and the Legislature are for. In the United States of America, if the MAJORITY of the people wish to change those laws, they should seek out their legislative representatives for change. That’s how it’s done. Instead, groups like CIRC try to use loud voices, bullying tactics and the demonization of hard working law enforcement officers in an effort to make change for a few.
Law enforcement Agents, Deputies and Officers are law “enforcers” and do not have the right to pick and choose which laws we want to enforce and which ones we want to turn our backs on. Of course, it is also true that is some cases state and local officers do not have the same authority as our federal partners (i.e. immigration enforcement), but there is nothing prohibiting us from collaborating with them to use whatever Constitutional and legal means is available to protect our communities. CIRC would have you believe that this is an “evil conspiracy”. I prefer to qualify our working relationship as collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners to provide the utmost safety and security for you.
There is a great debate amongst law enforcement agencies across the country as to whether or not they want immigration authority. Both sides of the discussion present valid concerns. Regardless of the current dialog, state and local law enforcement agencies in Colorado DO NOT have immigration authority. We cannot detain people solely on immigration status nor deport them as some of the propaganda suggests. Only federal authorities can do that! Ironically, even ICE by their internal practices as well as recently re-stated White House policy do not focus their limited resources on those that are here merely as “undocumented” individuals. Instead, the focus of their attention is on behavior, CRIMINAL behavior and they must prioritize those cases first. So, how accurate is it when you hear lies like “the local SRO deported a member of my family”, or “ICE does local sweeps for those that are living in our community as undocumented”. Knowing what you now know, consider that there is more to the story than you are hearing. There is ALWAYS more to the story.
I have heard the statement that “they are afraid”. Who are “they” and what are they afraid of? I understand a drug dealer being afraid if he finds himself in the presence of DEA, a terrorist in the presence of FBI, or a fugitive in the presence of the Marshals. The common thread in these examples is criminal behavior. So it appears to me that unless you’re a criminal or know of criminal behavior, what would there be to be afraid of? As law abiding citizens, are you afraid of law enforcement?
As your Sheriff, I have clearly stated that I will not tolerate criminal activity in our community, especially illegal gang activity. From that perspective, I will use ANY law enforcement agency, including the feds to assist me with protecting you. With the assistance of ICE, we have successfully removed over 50 identified gang members from our county who were also illegal aliens. I am under the impression that as law abiding citizens this is what you expect of me and other law enforcement agencies. If not, please let me know. If it is, please let your voice be heard because until I hear differently from the members of this community, I will continue to collaborate with ALL law enforcement entities to provide the safest environment for you.
Sheriff Lou Vallario
10/10/11
