Chief Deane Warned Us, July 2007

NOTE: Although the audio is in tact, the archival video of Chief Deane's speech on July 10, 2007 is 90 percent close-ups of his Powerpoint presentation. This video is supplemented by footage from Sept. 18, 2007.

Statement to the Board of Supervisors - July 10, 2007
Prince William County Police Chief Charlie Deane

By now most of you have read the lead editorial in the Washington Post entitled: "Hounding Immigrants—In Prince William, the Poisonous Fruit of Congressional Failure."




Such an article shines a very bright spotlight on our county—one that the State of Virginia and the Nation will be watching and judging for many years to come. The matter of illegal aliens in Prince William County is both complex and volatile. I know what a difficult position we are all in. Change in our county is never easy and the influx of Hispanics, many who are here without proper documentation, has had an impact on all County services. And as the County's leaders, you have both a right and a duty to legislate how we deal with the changes—both good and bad. As the Chief of Police, I know the issues and respect your debate and will carry out your will.

As you are aware, I have been the Chief of Police for over 19 years in this County, and with the Police Department since its inception in 1970. During those decades of change and at times strife, you have always sought my opinion, for which I am grateful. And I hope you know I have always had, and will always have, the County's best interests at heart in giving my advice.

In that vein, I want to suggest that the current proposed legislation on which you will vote tonight will have significant unintended consequences that will impact our County for years to come. Just to mention a few:
• Community policing efforts will end. This method of policing, which our County has
embraced with impressive results, has been identified as the best practice in policing and is based on the trust between the public and the police. Clearly 18% of our population is Hispanic and that population will not respond to the current proposed legislation in a positive manner, but rather in a hostile and distrustful one. Thus, based on all my years of experience in policing, I predict one unintended consequence will be the sharp rise in
unsolved crime and the under-reporting of crime by minority populations.
• Perceptions of racism will increase. I predict that because this current proposed legislation will be viewed by many as clearly targeting the Hispanic population, we will all be viewed by many inside and outside our County as racists. Despite any cries of fairness and impartiality, Prince William County, which over the past few decades has had an outstanding reputation of inclusion, could be painted by the Nation as a racist community intent on driving out a single population.
• Crime rates among youth will rise. If immigrant children are not allowed to attend school or if health clinics deny care or cause a chilling effect sufficient to keep sick women, children and elderly away, there will be harsh unintended consequences. Again based on my years of law enforcement experience I predict that frustration will mount and more youth will be pushed toward gangs, and violence will likely erupt.
• Vigilantism could emerge. Because the current proposed resolution calls for citizens to be able to sue the County if more radical enforcement actions are not taken, I can foresee the potential for a deluge of widespread vigilantism that will erode trust in our County to the point of, at a minimum, incessant finger pointing and petty but cumbersome calls for service and at worse a divisive community and mass disruption.
What does this mean to you and me? If we don't get this right...

• A more radicalized County population. I believe that the current proposal will in effect polarize the residents into solid pro and con camps. Eventually, both will become difficult to deal with rationally.
• Increased angry calls to you by constituents on both sides of this issue. I predict the negative response will be hauntingly similar to the U.S. electorate responding to the strategy of the War in Iraq, which has polarized both sides.
• Higher taxes. If you pass this proposal, I predict you will have to raise taxes to cover the skyrocketing expenses of responding to the calls for service that will flood the Police Department. Police staffing, and increased Adult Detention Center operating costs are just two examples of costs that will escalate.
• A surging crime wave. This rise in crime will result in a potential response of vigilantism, displaced and angry minorities in our County, displaced and disenfranchised youth who will move to gangs for solace and protection, and a host of other unintentional outcroppings of such proposed legislation.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• immigration
• police
• chief
• deane
• virginia
• prince
• william
• warning
• undocumented
• illegal
• stewart
• stirrup
• resolution

[9500Liberty]

Does anyone who live in Prince William County really think the Police Chief has any reason to lie or use propaganda to mislead us? Hint: he is not an elected official.

[9500Liberty]

NOTE: Although the audio is in tact, the only video available of Chief Deane's speech at the July 10th 2007 meeting is 90 percent close-ups of his powerpoint presentation. This video shows all the video that exists of Chief Deane himself, supplemented with footage from the Sept. 18 meeting, at which Chief Deane also spoke to the board.

[Shinra2006]

This video shows just how bad things could get if we do not reform our immigration laws. We should make it easy for Illegal immigrants to become legal, Those who do commit crimes should go to jail like any other criminal, but do not crucify illegal immigrants for simply coming here for jobs, or their families. That is what I define as Immoral, and downright inhumane.

[asdfpoijc21]

They don't care. They just hate what he has to say, whether it's true or not. It doesn't matter that the words come from a professional upholder of the law, which they proclaim to be 'all about'.

[PAULCCFOX]

Another Asshole, just lie and lie, i bet we are wasting money on him sit down on his patrol car eating some dunkin donuts.

[sailormoon2008]

@NativeAmericanPride3 please go get a reality check. no jobs are being taken from anybody. when do you see a native american picking strawberries or tomatoes at only 1.25 an hour? you would never see a white person doing this job. if you dont like it go to school, get an education, and do something about it. instead of complaining, why dont you go prepare yourself for the outside world? why dont you become some politic and get votes to "help" you make this change?

[borderraven]

100% agree!

[borderraven]

Please tell me, do those "immigrants" you speak of carry a passport, a visa, and did they enter the USA, legally, lawfully, following the process called "immigration", or do you speak of "illegal aliens" who entered the USA, by breaking our laws, violating our borders, and insulting the US Constitution? Perhaps, it is better to have lost illegal aliens from the town, as it creates job opportunities for US citizens and returning military.

[gctzzz]

I dont get your point with the pregnant woman, anyway name a job that you wouldnt do, janitor maybe? will you clean restrooms?? i dont know, but i can tell you i ve seen many jobs, places, and usually you dont get served by many americans, anyway i cant generalize but yes there are jobs americans won´t do or not many americans, just look around you, but oh yes.., dont forget to open your eyes.

[kroehm1972]

Name one job that I wouldn't want to do, that hasn't been given to an Immigrant Illegal or otherwise. Don't sling that BS that immigrants do the work that others won't, because you don't know what I or others are willing to do just to make ends meet. Name one job that a pregnant Mexican woman will do, you know as well as I that no 9 month pregnant Illegal Immigrant is coming here for work! So quit the BS!!!

[hitwithice]

Hmmmmm.... OKY DOKY.

[gctzzz]

I would like you to stop by prince william county, ghost town i call it, most of the immigrants are gone, just looks empty, constructions stopped...face it immigrants are part of your population, immigrants do jobs you wont. not like they guy that says that immigrants take 30 percent of his brothers, they dont take it, they do jobs his brothers wont.period.

[minutemenAREcowards]

your dumb dude EVEN BILL MEANS (INTERNATIONALyes dude INTERNATIONAL INDIAN COUNCIL) supports natives of mexico and understands the spirit of ZAPATA etc.. supports the EZLN etc.... u sound like a white guy!!! u deny your native brothers who are YAQUI, APACHE, etc.. who yes are both native to US and MEXICO!!!! so please understand something and quit being ignorant!!!

[auntieM16]

All immigration must be stopped?

But mgligo, I thought it wasn't about immigration, that legal or illegal was the big deal, not race or immigration in general.

You clones have to stay on the same regurgitated talking points. You're starting to sound silly.