Phoenix chief at odds with Gordon

Harris: Chasing migrants would drain resources

Judi Villa and Casey Newton
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 18, 2007 12:00 AM

As Phoenix crafts a more aggressive immigration-enforcement policy, Police Chief Jack Harris on Monday strongly defended the current policy, saying significant changes could cripple the department's efforts to fight violent crime.

Harris' comments mark his first public statements since Mayor Phil Gordon announced earlier this month that he no longer supported Operations Order 1.4, the policy that prevents police in many cases from asking about someone's immigration status.

The looming changes could tie up limited police resources and lead to allegations of racial-profiling, Harris said. The chief also pointed to the "Baseline Killer," "Serial Shooter" and "AM Rapist" cases, which were lengthy, manpower-intensive investigations.

"Do you want me to take the people that were working the Goudeau case and have them chase corn vendors? Don't think so," Harris said, referring to Mark Goudeau, the Baseline Killer suspect who was arrested in September 2006 in connection with nine murders.