Warren doesn’t profile, is right on 287(g) program
October 23, 2009

DEAR EDITOR:

In reading the daily police blotter in the MDJ, I notice that more often than not, the charges include motor vehicle violations. None of them explain the circumstances that contributed to the arrest nor does it matter. What does matter is that a criminal has been taken off the street. The motor vehicle violations indicate the person was most likely stopped by a police officer while operating. Having been involved in law enforcement in the past, I believe that the most important aspect in determining how well this experience will turn out is the attitude of the operator when stopped by the police.

Last year I was stopped around 11 p.m. on Cobb Parkway by the Cobb police. I pulled to the side of the road, activated my four-way flashing lights, turned on my interior light and placed both hands on the steering wheel as the officer approached. I did not scream wanting to know why I was stopped. I knew the officer would eventually get to it.

The officer requested my driver’s license. I knew he had already checked my registration on his radio. In addition, I handed him my Georgia Firearm Permit as I informed him of the presence of a firearm in my vehicle. There was no screaming, “Get out of the vehicle” at gun point. Instead the officer explained that my tag lights were out as he returned to his vehicle to check out my license. In returning, the officer handed me my documents, requested I get my tag lights repaired and thanked me for my cooperation. This was a total of 15 minutes and I was on my way.

Suppose I was not legal and had no license and registration. My screaming at the officer resulted in his discovering drugs and a stolen firearm all because of burned out tag lights. There is no profiling there.

The ACLU and Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington shaking fingers at Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren for his implementing the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program is unbelievable. I work a few blocks from Georgia Tech where lately five students have been robbed at gun point with two of them shot. Pennington needs to clean his own house and let Warren protect the citizens of Cobb County. These attacks on Warren only reassure me why I voted to reelect him.

Laura Armstrong’s column in Sunday’s MDJ was so on the money. I am confident that there is no profiling in Cobb County law enforcement. I greatly encourage all those fine Cobb county officers to continue their outstanding efforts to keep us safe. Those that scream “profiling” are usually the ones that need to be closely examined.

Ralph Laughter
Marietta

HERE