Sheriff's Dept. tried to do right by cross-certifying border agent

Opinion by Sgt. Christopher Rogers

In my role as chairman of the Pima County Deputy Sheriff's Association, I represent the majority of the commissioned officers in the Pima County Sheriff's Department. I take exception to the criticism that has been leveled against the department in recent weeks, specifically on the issue of cross-certifying a U.S. Border Patrol agent to serve in the newly developed border-crimes section.

As a result of an upswing of violent crimes related to human and drug smuggling, the Sheriff's Department recently used grant money and additional funds made possible by the Board of Supervisors to develop a section targeting the criminals that prey on illegal border crossers and citizens who live in border communities.

Pima County shares 130 miles of border with Mexico. This geographic distinction creates many scenarios that effect citizens and noncitizens alike. In the last year, there have been 26 homicides that can be directly attributed to crimes involving illegal immigration and the drug trade.

One of the main priorities of the border-crimes section is to target the areas best known for human and drug smuggling and use Arizona Revised Statutes to enforce the law. The cross certification of a Border Patrol agent would make that job easier.

Unlike some letters to the editor have suggested, sheriff's deputies do not and will not turn a blind eye to a person's immigration status in the course of enforcing state law. If it is learned during an investigation that a person is in the country illegally, the proper federal authorities are notified.

In order to get this information, it is sometimes necessary for deputies to ask a person's immigration status. We do not hesitate to do so. This practice is a direct contradiction to the policy dictated to Phoenix police officers. My counterparts at the Phoenix Police Department want to have the authority to question people about their immigration status. Instead, the Phoenix City Council and chief of police have made it impossible for them to do so.