http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/knau/local-knau-902922.mp3
Phoenix, AZ – That element is what constitutes reasonable suspicion someone is
in this country illegally. That's significant. The law set to
take effect July 29 requires police who have stopped someone for
another reason to check immigration status if there is reasonable
suspicion the person is an illegal immigrant. The law has raised
concerns about racial profiling. In response, Gov. Jan Brewer
directed the the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to
instruct officers on the law -- a law that specifically precludes
the use of race, ethnicity or national origin. Lyle Mann, the
board's executive director, said it's not necessary to consider
those factors.
(Why would you think that they would, given the fact you have so
many who are legally, because we're so close to the border,
particularly because we have such a large Hispanic population. So
race is not an indice of criminality.)
If not race, then what is the board going to instruct police on
what constitutes reasonable suspicion?
(We're in the process of doing that. And I would say that, when
it's done, it will be a very well articulated list of things?)
That will become part of a 60 to 90 minute video on the new law
that will be distributed to police departments throughout the
state around the end of June. For Arizona Public Radio this is
Howard Fischer.