PLEA Board members meet with ICE

PLEA met with ICE during Police Memorial Week in May.  ICE communicated great confidence in SB1070 and great appreciation for our combined efforts in dealing with the crime of illegal immigration.  It’s interesting to note that ICE challenge coins given to PLEA emphasized the value of partnerships – Federal, State, and Local.  This is a guiding principle in SB1070.

PPD Mourns Fallen Officer

On May 26, 2010, at approximately 0130 Hrs., Phoenix Police Officer Travis Murphy paid the ultimate sacrifice with his life while attempting to detain a suspect that had eluded officers earlier.  The suspect, identified as Daniel L. Martinez, drove at a high rate of speed into the neighborhood located at the 1900 Block of W. Fairmount St.  Neighborhood residents called the police to report suspicious activity and Officer Murphy and his partner responded to investigate.  Officer Murphy located the suspect nearby and the contact quickly escalated to a gunfight.  Officer Murphy ultimately sustained fatal injuries.  The suspect was subsequently located nearby and and taken into custody.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Murphy's family and co-workers during this very trying time.

Listen Now! to comments aired on KFYI on the Mike Broomhead show on Wednesday May 26, 2010.

Below is News 12 video coverage of a press conference held on May 26, 2010 at the shooting scene.

PPD Immigration Policy Mirrors SB 1070

Phoenix Police Officers have been "test driving" SB1070 for the past two years.  

In that two year period, we've been able to have discretionary contact with ICE when an officer had reasonable suspicion that a person was in the county illegally and that person was connected with criminal activity.  During this two year test drive, we were able to have over 3000 illegal aliens deported without any additional crimes, without any additional cost, without any additional burden on manpower, and without a SINGLE civil rights, racial profiling, or biased policing complaint. 

Under our new policy (the SB1070 two-year test drive) crime rates plummeted.  Attached are the reasons Jack Harris attributed to this drop in crime: "We developed a new immigration policy (two-year test drive of SB1070) that allows our officers to use their discretion when dealing with criminal aliens and our officers have used this tool (new immigration policy) effectively."

Read more: PPD Immigration Policy Mirrors SB 1070

AZPOST Addresses Training Issues on SB-1070

In a recent meeting of the AZPOST board, director Lyle Mann addressed the panel on how statewide training would be conducted for Arizona peace officers with regard to SB-1070.  The only police labor representattives that had input into the construction of the training were Dr. Levi Bolton, PLEA's legislative lobbyist, Brian Livingston, Director of the Arizoan Police Association and Jimmy Chavez, President of the Arizona Highway Patrol Assciation.   

CLICK HERE to watch the related video segment from News 12.