The FOP and their state president Bryan Soller were quick to defend sanctuary city policies while standing behind police chiefs 3 years ago. The FOP communicated to State Senator Russell Pearce, the author of SB1070, that they supported his Safe Neighborhoods bill. However, when it came to publicly taking a stance, it looked like the FOP caved in to the wishes and desires of the Association of the Chiefs of Police. It appears that Soller and his police fraternity are comfortable obeying the political agenda of the Association of Chiefs of Police as well as standing shoulder to shoulder with protestors against SB1070; protestors who carry fake coffins mourning the loss of their civil rights. Too many fallen Phoenix Police Officers have tragically forfeited their civil rights at the hands of illegal aliens. The real coffins carrying the bodies of Phoenix Police Officers and Arizona citizens murdered by illegal aliens have a much more serious and somber message that seems to elude the “straw man” arguments of FOP state president Bryan Soller. Is Soller and the FOP concerned that these lost lives are the real “unfunded mandates?” It appears that Soller’s concern about murderers and child rapists doesn’t include a pro-active approach to the crime of illegal immigration – a pro-active strategy which would have made life-differences to girls in Chandler, officers in Phoenix, ranchers on the southern border, workers in the state, or taxpayers in our communities.
SB1070 requires reasonable suspicion and allows officer discretion when dealing with illegal aliens, thus the term “when practicable” in the statute. The true unfunded mandate has been created by sanctuary polices that the FOP defends but the Mesa Police Association (as well as PLEA, the APA, Border Patrol, and 9000 rank-and-file officers) opposes. Perhaps the fact that 20% of inmates in the County Jail have ICE holds on them is a cost that could be avoided by a law that cultivates deterrence. Perhaps that fact that there are hundreds of dangerous felons in custody that created more crimes, victims, damage and costs that could have been avoided. The FOP and their police chiefs embraced their broken police policies instead of the rule of law.
Soller’s position prods one to ask – who is the FOP truly representing?