Maricopa Profiling?
July 31, 2010
Dear Editor,
I have read the commentary as to Maricopa PD racially profiling, as well as this evening watched their Chief speak on what he can do as a Peace Officer in the State of California.
As to the profiling, is it any different when someone of non hispanic origin is walking on the side of the street and asked if he or she is on probation or parole? Then asked for identification, so a want/warrant check can be performed? Non-Hispanics in America are required to produce identification to a law enforcement officer upon request period. Thats the law, so why are the rules different for those of Hispanic Origin? Its not about race, its about the law. All citizens are required to obey, including illegal or migrant immigrants.
As to Maricopa PD being able to perform a traffic stop outside of their Jurisdiction, such as San Francisco as the Chief stated is completely a falsehood. Thus the reason for Jurisdictions. Its an outrage to see 24 Officers in a town of less than 1,000 people, and in my opinion a complete abuse of power. My father has a rental in Taft, Maricopa PD performed a drug raid at the rental and then threatened my dad stating that if he did not evict them (which he was already doing) that they would seize the property as a drug seizure. Maricopa PD Jurisdiction is Maricopa and Maricopa alone, not Taft, or Ford City or San Francisco. The media need not allow the Police to enforce and make up laws as they see fit. It is their job to enforce the Law, not interpret it, that is for an elected Judge to do.
County Roads outside of City Limits are the County Sheriffs responsibility as the Highways are the Highway Patrols. This Chief need be counseled and informed that he is abusing his power, and if a DA had any balls would prosecute him for such.
This is just another case of those in power make up their own rules is the way I see it.
Jason Swaim
Dear Editor Of The Taft Independent
I had just left my friends house, we were headed out of town. My friends had just told me to make sure to stop all the way at the stop sign in Maricopa because the police have been writing massive amounts of tickets. We pulled up to the stop sign making sure to fully stop. We stopped all the way and we were looking to see if the Shell gas station was open. It wasn't so we proceeded through the stop sign. When we were pulled over by the Maricopa police, they cited me for blowing through the stop sign at 10 miles per hour. They pulled me over, and the two police officers shined their flash lights all through my car. They had no reason for pulling me over in the first place. I made a complete stop. It was early in the morning they, just had nothing better to do than hassle me. Because of the time of morning, I believe they pulled me over just to see if they could find any reason to impound my car and/or arrest me.
This is another case of the Maricopa police harrassing people instead of making them feel safe.
Brian Carpenter
I have read the commentary as to Maricopa PD racially profiling, as well as this evening watched their Chief speak on what he can do as a Peace Officer in the State of California.
As to the profiling, is it any different when someone of non hispanic origin is walking on the side of the street and asked if he or she is on probation or parole? Then asked for identification, so a want/warrant check can be performed? Non-Hispanics in America are required to produce identification to a law enforcement officer upon request period. Thats the law, so why are the rules different for those of Hispanic Origin? Its not about race, its about the law. All citizens are required to obey, including illegal or migrant immigrants.
As to Maricopa PD being able to perform a traffic stop outside of their Jurisdiction, such as San Francisco as the Chief stated is completely a falsehood. Thus the reason for Jurisdictions. Its an outrage to see 24 Officers in a town of less than 1,000 people, and in my opinion a complete abuse of power. My father has a rental in Taft, Maricopa PD performed a drug raid at the rental and then threatened my dad stating that if he did not evict them (which he was already doing) that they would seize the property as a drug seizure. Maricopa PD Jurisdiction is Maricopa and Maricopa alone, not Taft, or Ford City or San Francisco. The media need not allow the Police to enforce and make up laws as they see fit. It is their job to enforce the Law, not interpret it, that is for an elected Judge to do.
County Roads outside of City Limits are the County Sheriffs responsibility as the Highways are the Highway Patrols. This Chief need be counseled and informed that he is abusing his power, and if a DA had any balls would prosecute him for such.
This is just another case of those in power make up their own rules is the way I see it.
Jason Swaim
Dear Editor Of The Taft Independent
I had just left my friends house, we were headed out of town. My friends had just told me to make sure to stop all the way at the stop sign in Maricopa because the police have been writing massive amounts of tickets. We pulled up to the stop sign making sure to fully stop. We stopped all the way and we were looking to see if the Shell gas station was open. It wasn't so we proceeded through the stop sign. When we were pulled over by the Maricopa police, they cited me for blowing through the stop sign at 10 miles per hour. They pulled me over, and the two police officers shined their flash lights all through my car. They had no reason for pulling me over in the first place. I made a complete stop. It was early in the morning they, just had nothing better to do than hassle me. Because of the time of morning, I believe they pulled me over just to see if they could find any reason to impound my car and/or arrest me.
This is another case of the Maricopa police harrassing people instead of making them feel safe.
Brian Carpenter
