Immigration idea is a 2nd step backward

I served as Costa Mesa’s chief of police for more than 17 years, from 1986 to 2003.

During my tenure there, the City Council had a strong desire to reduce crime in the city, and we did it. There was a 56% reduction in serious crimes, such as robbery and murder, over 12 years. To do that effectively required the cooperation of the entire community as a cohesive team. We (all the city’s staffers and the council) worked very hard at building bridges with all segments of the community.

Recognizing that Costa Mesa has a large Latino community, we developed programs that attempted to help this segment of our community begin to trust government, report crime and learn our culture -- and we theirs. People have to believe that we in government are in fact here to help them and their families become a vital, productive part of the community.

Without an accurate picture of where and when crime is occurring, crime fighting resources can’t be deployed accurately. It is imperative that this segment of the community report crime and not just be silent victims because they fear police and government.

Some programs were effective, others were not. Over time, those that did work were expanded and those that didn’t were scrapped for new and, we hope, better ideas.

The majority of the City Council back then believed, as I still do, that our job as officers is to protect everyone in Costa Mesa. It doesn’t matter (and shouldn’t) where a person is from or what their religion is. If they live, work, shop, play or just happen to be passing through the city of Costa Mesa, they get the best, unbiased protection available anywhere.

The Costa Mesa Police Department does that very well.

Over the years, I have watched some very mean-spirited, and in my opinion bigoted, gadflies at City Council meetings gain support for their effort to seemingly remove the Latino culture and influence from Costa Mesa (a city that has even a Spanish name). Sadly, its residents seem to have finally elected some members to the council who seem to share similar beliefs. This has had an effect, which, in my opinion, is very detrimental to the reputation and future of one of the finest cities in America.

The closing of the Costa Mesa Job Center, I believe, was a major step backward for Costa Mesa. I am sure the community will soon learn this when police resources are once again taxed to the max, as it was before the Job Center opened. Day workers of all races will once again crowd the streets and Lions Park seeking work.

Until the U.S. government decides how to deal with the growing immigration problem -- and it appears it doesn’t have a plan -- Costa Mesa should continue to build bridges with all segments of the community, not burn bridges.

Let Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the federal government deal with immigration law. It belongs there. If you believe the federal government should do more at the borders, tell your representatives in Congress.

When this issue is brought up at City Council meetings, the community should stand up and ask its elected officials just how these new police and immigration-enforcement deputies plan to distinguish an illegal immigrant from a U.S. citizen. Will they be required to ask only people with brown skin? Will all persons who have contact with the police have to produce proof that they really belong here in America?

Ask one; ask them all. The last I heard, Americans come in all colors.

* DAVE SNOWDEN is a resident of Newport Beach and the police chief of Beverly Hills.

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