Escondido police chief accused of targeting Hispanics

By America Barceló-Feldman, La Prensa

Monday, August 24, 2009
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Amid criticism and bitter comments, Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher tried to explain his policy surrounding the controversial check points, to a skeptical crowd and where activists described his policies as anti-immigrant.

Latino American Democratic Club members (LADC) held a debate where they asked the police chief for explanations as to why the check points that have a profound effect on the Latino population in Escondido happen so frequently in their communities.

The meeting was held at a restaurant in Oceanside, in which at least 50 to 60 people gathered. All of them came to question the chief of police about the transit checkpoints.

Maher tried to explain in 10 minutes why his department, since 2006, is conducting these check points in the most congested and troubled streets and areas of Escondido.

“Our goal is to keep our streets safe, we want to identify the people that provoke accidents, we want to remove those who violate traffic laws, and we have research showing that Escondido has unsafe streets, is one of the worst cities with a large number of accidents and we want to clean up this image,” Maher said in his speech.

Despite his efforts and explanations, Maher’s speech did not convince the audience that the check points are about stopping criminals and more about undocumented people.

Maher defended his statements saying that this was not correct information of those who were questioning him. “I came here to report the reality of how things are happening and what we are doing to combat crime in our streets and provide security for the residents,” Maher said.

Maher explained that the traffic check points are implemented to reduce the number of hit and run accidents, drunk drivers, and someone driving with suspended licenses.

In his remarks, Maher replied that the work of the immigration officer is to arrest aliens who have committed crimes and not to arrest people who do not have documents and reach the traffic checkpoints.

Afterwards, Maher’s speech was revoked by the Hispanic activist Bill Flores, retired Assistant Sheriff in San Diego and a member of the Group, the leading opponent of the police chief’s policies.

Flores released classified data showing roadblocks targeting the Hispanic population, the traffic stops are often setup in places where Hispanics live and frequent.

“Many people have been affected by not having a driver’s license, their cars are impounded for 30 days, they have to pay expensive fines, the city has paid nearly eight million dollars in towing services and officers salaries in order to do the check points, and the worst part is that the Escondido police work with immigration agents”, Flores stated.

Besides, Flores said, the police chief’s information is not correct and he never releases important data that can support his policies. He only reiterates that his policies are supported by migrant opposition groups, and by Escondido City Council members Mary Waldon and Sam Abbed, who want the Hispanic community driven out of the city.

“The only thing that these check points have done is to scare Hispanic people, they are leaving Escondido, the police chief never wants to give conclusive figures showing that his traffic policies are effective,” Flores added.

After audience applauded Flores’s speech, the chief of police tried to clarify the statements against him.

Some of the corrections he wanted to point out were, that only 17 checkpoints were held last year, not 40 as Flores said. Also, he noted that the only time where an unfortunate person was deported was in 2008, when a lady did not have a driver’s license, and after the officer identified her, discovered she was an immigration fugitive. Following federal law they called immigration agents, and she was arrested by these authorities.

Yet, despite all his words, Maher did not convince the LADC members, who questioned the policies adopted by the officer.

“I knew they would like to destroy me,” he said jokingly. “They were going to attack me, but still I came to inform them. Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity to correct what they said, they did not give me enough time to rebut what they said. I am very disappointed by this meeting,” Maher noted.

Although the police chief’s face was filled with disappointment, he added that if he was re-invited to this kind of forum again, he would be happy to attend to publicize his achievements and progress against crime in the streets of Escondido.

Among the audience was the Escondido city council person, Olga Diaz, who pointed out her opposition toward Maher’s policies.

“I do not agree with the checkpoints, these are excessive and are damaging our city. Instead of uniting they are dividing our communities. Although the chief refuses to mention this, there are anti-immigrant groups that support these tactics. These check points are targeting Hispanics because they are vulnerable. Maher never gives specific data and he doesn’t help me to do my job, this is a big problem”, the councilwoman said.

Diaz said that city authorities do not want to talk about this problem. This makes it difficult to ban these checkpoints. In the City Hall there are two council members that support these policies and she does not have enough support to stop them.

“I hope that this will change with the next election. There will be more Hispanics that are planning to run for the council and this will help us to have more of a voice and votes to fight everything that is affecting our community,” Diaz said.

Despite the severe criticism, the police chief was simply stating that these allegations were not true, and he insisted that his immigration policy does not allow his officers to act as immigration agents, or collaborate with federal agents as other agencies do.

Finally, the president of LADC stated that they will seek to help the needy people in the community, and they will support new democratic candidates, who reject the abusive policies of powerful people such as the police chief of Escondido.

America Barceló-Feldman writes for La Prensa where this story originally appeared.

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 24th, 2009 at 9:47 am and is filed under News, Politics & Government . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

15 comments

READER COMMENTS

Comment by: Robert Sommers Posted: August 24, 2009, 10:47 am

Your article totally ignores the real damage caused by unlicensed drivers and those driving with suspended or revoked license’s. AAA has done an exhaustive study that proves the carnage that is caused by such people. It is not racist to place officers in areas where violations are most likely to happen. As an example if a neigborhood had serial rapist operating in the vicinity (a rather extreme analogy I know), you would place undercover officers there rather in an area where such crimes do not or are far less likely to happen. To say that hispanics will attempt to get elected on this issue is racist in nature. An elected official is there to represent all citizens, not just those they identify with culturally or racially. What that statement says is that Hispanic politicians will ignore the welfare of every ethnic group but their own. How sad!

Comment by: Roberto Posted: August 24, 2009, 12:15 pm

Being in the United States without going through the proper channels to come here is illegal. It is the duty of every police officer to arrest people committing the crime of entering the U.S. illegally. What I get from this article is that “Hispanic Activist” really means “Illegal Alien Activist”. Such activists seem to think that American laws don’t mean anything, or don’t apply to them. Breaking into the U.S. is against the law. Arrest them!

Comment by: R. A. T. Posted: August 24, 2009, 1:48 pm

Truthfully, the Sherriff is doing his job. All the whines and gripes are in my opinion unjustified and unsubstantiated. Go ahead and find yourself a polititian to support your woes and hopefully the results will prove to you that you have complained about things for all the wrong reasons. It seems to me that the only reason anyone is unhappy here is because a white Sherrif is in charge of an area heavily populated with Hispanics. If anyone should be accused of discrimination here it should be the accusers and not the accused.

Comment by: Rachel Posted: August 24, 2009, 3:29 pm

Keep the checkpoints Chief Maher and great job of catching the law breakers. Of course, the Illegals do not want to get caught so they oppose the checkpoints. Stop listening to their whining. The legal citizens want these checkpoints to continue. In addition to the illegals being ILLEGAL, and their lack of motivation to get licenses and insurance, I’m tired of the smelly exhaust of the vehicles from Mexico that are driven here. We have laws to keep our cars clean and safe, why don’t the illegals have to do the same?

Comment by: Ordep Posted: August 24, 2009, 4:36 pm

Questions should be made about Chief Maher’s use of overtime pay to have his officers drive people out to the Temecula BP station for an immigration status check. His policies and reasoning are a threat to the quality of life of working people in Escondido and elsewhere. The checkpoints have got to go, no question about that. An investigation should be made of the tow truck companies that are reaping the benefits of working people in this time of economic disparity.

Comment by: KeepitUp Posted: August 24, 2009, 6:12 pm

These check points are needed! They are one of the best things this city has done for their residents. NO ONE should be driving without a proper license and insurance. IT’S THE LAW!!!…
You know how many of my kids friends were driving underage without a license? too many of them! and they are not illegal! I don’t care who you are or where you come from the law needs to be obeyed and I am glad our city is enforcing the laws.
Are these “rights” groups suppose to scream and whine until none of the laws can be enforced!
I cant’ believe our chief should even have to defend these check points. If I were him, my comment would be just this… WE ARE DOING OUR JOBS ENFORCING THE LAWS!!!…
Way to go Escondido PD Keep up the good work!!!…

Comment by: UNBELIEVABLE Posted: August 25, 2009, 6:59 am

I can’t believe this is being discussed. These racist mexican groups should be helping their people and inform them of the laws (get license/register their cars) instead of complaining that they are being “targeted”. It only takes half a brain to understand that if you don’t want to be targeted then follow the laws and “fit in”. It is so obvious that Flores and Diaz are both racist and not serving all of the community. Diaz is a fraud.

Comment by: Al T. Posted: August 25, 2009, 8:59 am

This is America! Home of the brave…land of the free….and if you want in……you come in legally! I’m sick and tired of my tax dollars going into emergency rooms to care for people who do not even belong in the country to begin with! And I’m tired of my tax dollars going to illegals immigrants sitting in classroom seats that very definitely belong to American citizens!
If the traffic stops snare undocumented immigrants of ANY nationality, LET’S HAVE MORE OF THEM!!!! SCREW THE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS CRAP!!! WE’RE TIRED OF IT!! ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!

Comment by: Matt Posted: August 25, 2009, 7:37 pm

Keep the checkpoints. Read the statistics on the EPD website. They are disturbing. There are a huge amount of unlicensed, uninsured, and drunks driving on the streets. Why would people want these drivers to remain on the streets?

It does not make sense to support discontinuing the checkpoints. Unless, you are an unlicensed driver without insurance who regularly drives drunk. Than it would make sense.

Comment by: Tired of Illegals complaining Posted: August 26, 2009, 8:54 am

I believe it is Olga Diaz who is the racist and she is stirring up trouble. Why does Diaz and Flores think it is okay for Illegals to be living here, and driving around without insurance and licenses? Why is it okay for Illegals to use up our taxpayer services for free when they are meant for legal citizens? Would Mexico be so accommodating to US citizens? NO! Diaz, Flores, you are out of touch with reality, want something without working for it, and want the taxpayers to keep handing over the freebees and services to people here illegally and don’t deserve it.

Comment by: ailene Posted: August 26, 2009, 10:43 am

I applaud the chief for his hard work and I feel he is doing a good job of taking unlicensed and uninsured off the streets and if the majority are hispanics then so be it. They should do the right thing. First of all why should you complain when you broke the law by being here illegally,then you want equal rights for doing wrong. Then you have immigrant activists defending them,maybe we should check their’s and their family status.
I as a citizen can not and will not drive w/o a license or insurance,should they have more rights than I.
My sister was hit by an intoxicated,uninsured and unlicensed hispanic man 5 yrs ago and she is still suffering. She tried to be fair after his daughter pleaded with her not to call the police and that the would take care of everything. His nice daughter gave false information,it turns out that was his 2nd accident while being intoxicated. After sevearl attempts to locate the guys daughter,she was able to speak w/her and she was very rude and would not give my sister any other information, then the contact numbers were disconnected and she never heard from them again.
Thank God my sister had uninsured motorists insurance to fix her car,but she is still sufferring from the injury.
I also had a family member that was driving without insurance and they took his car and you know what he didn’t make a big deal about it because he knew he was wrong. He’s a black man which is a rare species in Escondido and he could have hollered Racism,but he knew he was wrong and had to pay the consequences.
So all of you illegals that thinks it’s so wrong and you are being targeted you should do things the right way and come legally so you can get the required documents or just shut up and deal with the consequences or better yet leave. After all we didn’t invite you here.
I don’t mind you being here but do the right thing,if you going to be here,obey the laws of the land.

Comment by: William Ladd Posted: August 26, 2009, 11:41 am

It would be great if all illegals would come in and complain in person, so that they could be deported, as they should be.

Comment by: Ed Penniman Posted: August 26, 2009, 3:22 pm

Neither Diaz or Flores say that the arrests, citations given, or impounded cars were in valid.

What they are saying is that Hispanic people, because of their race, are above the laws of California that require all other citizens to have valid driver’s licenses, maintain auto insurance and current auto registrations.

My company closed, so I am unemployed. I pay 200/month for auto insurance, 500 /year for registration and $40 license renewal. According to Diaz or Flores point of view, if I change my sir name, I won’t have to pay these fees.

I am not sure what oath council members take when they are sworn into office, but I am sure that it doesn’t require them to support the breaking of the law’s of California. That is what Councilwoman Diaz is doing by suggesting that check points not be used.

Councilwoman Diaz should be impeached for not performing the duties of her office and for encouraging Hispanics to break the law’s of California.

Comment by: Jeff Posted: September 24, 2009, 12:13 pm

I think everyone is missing the whole point. The point is that all the citizens of Escondido rights’ are being violated by Escondido police chief. Jim has lost focus on the community and his whole focus is to catching illegals. The department has lost the respect of the whole community (White and Brown). The chief has focus on going around the city explaining checkpoints and lying to the community. He forgets to mention that the Escondido P.D has a border patrol officer working out of his department and that every time he sets up a checkpoint, he will either call it DUI checkpoint/DL checkpoint, Driver license checkpoint, or saturation checkpoint, and has about two of each every month. This checkpoints are illegal, he can not stop people without probable cause, and also he puts a hold of 30 days for vehicle. Escondido is the only city that is doing this. So don’t forget that he is violating all of our right, and just because he gets couple of undocumented people does it justify the department breaking the law. Checkpoints must stop and there is no question about. There are couple of lawsuit on his way as we speak. After the lawsuits he must go to with his checkpoints.

Comment by: Jeff Posted: September 25, 2009, 8:03 am

If you don’t know exactly what is going on in these checkpoints, you should not speak like you know. These checkpoints are totally illegal, people can not be stopped without probable-cause in this country, you should know that if you are an American. Checkpoints is not just affecting brown people, or just illegals, it’s affecting hard working tax-payers in our city. Maybe they don’t have all the proper paperwork in the car or just didn’t have the money to pay for registration. Police should not be hold their cars for 30 days, while the towing companies and the city are benefiting from it. This is a true shake down on our citizens. I’m not for anyone driving without driver license, but I’m not giving up my rights so that the police can get couple of illegals. That is not American, I don’t like being pulled over and police go through my car for no reason and violate my rights. No probable cause, that is the reason why the city is getting a big lawsuit, then maybe then they will understand that the chief can’t keep breaking the law. He needs to focus on real issues in our community, he is not the border patrol. Maybe after lawsuit, he can work for border patrol, since he has a big passion for it.

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