Until the state is back on track and our economy is healthy again, we strongly support Proposition 23, and according to an August Los Angeles Business Journal survey, we're not alone. The Journal revealed that most voters would support the job-boosting initiative by 58%, compared to 38% who would not support the bill.

On closer examination, AB 32 would, in reality, beget the loss of an additional one million jobs – not to mention cost the City billions in fancy regulations for electricity, natural gas, gasoline and diesel, vehicle costs and new homes. We understand that loss in government revenue means one thing: less funding for our law enforcement services and communities. Meanwhile, we know the current cuts being made to the City's budget are already taking their toll on LAPD.

How can our community know we are here to protect them if we continue to cut more hours worked by officers? We urge our members to vote YES on this ballot measure, which would save additional severe cuts from being made against our much-needed law enforcement services.

While we want to do our part for global warming, now is not the time to slap the City with reduced revenues and increased energy costs. The League cannot afford – financial or public safety wise – to jeopardize its top and only priority – safety of its police officers and the citizens we serve. Go to www.yeson23.com for more information on Proposition 23.

It's understandable if LAPD officers citywide are humming, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." That's because at the Eagle & Badge Gala on Saturday, August 21, LA Dodgers owner Frank McCourt promised complimentary game tickets for LAPD officers and their families. A man of his word, McCourt delivered 10,000 vouchers to the LAPPL last week - each one good for four free tickets to a game on September 17, 18 and 19 or October 1, 2 and 3.

The complimentary tickets represent a very generous, morale-boosting gesture from Mr. McCourt, one of three civic leaders honored at the Gala for outstanding community service. When he stepped to the mic at the Gala, we had no inkling he would honor and show his appreciation to “the men and women in blue from the boys in blue” by graciously offering 40,000 Loge and Reserve level seats.

As LAPD officers and their families prepare to enjoy a great American pastime, on their behalf we extend our sincere thanks to a great Angelino and American, Frank McCourt. May the Dodgers have a strong close to the 2010 season with LAPD officers cheering them on!

He was serving his country as a Marine reservist in Afghanistan when the 15-pound roadside bomb Marine Staff Sgt. and LAPD officer Joshua Cullins was disarming exploded. Joshua suffered a concussion in the blast and when the alarming news reached LAPD’s Central Division, his fellow officers turned to YouTube to send a pair of get-well-soon messages to their friend and colleague.

As recounted in a must-read story by LA Times’ writer Bob Pool, Captain Daryl Russell remembered that one of his officers, David Marroquin, was experienced at producing videos. Marroquin proceeded to record personal messages to Cullins on video starting off with Chief Beck. Then Marroquin recruited a friend, actor-musician J. Hunter Ackerman, to write a song to accompany the get-well messages for an MTV-style music video.

The completed two-part video began streaming on YouTube late last week. The polished music video labeled "Hunter Ackerman — Welcome Home” quickly received nearly 4,000 “hits” and scores of favorable comments from viewers touched by the bravery and sacrifice of a true American hero.

It speaks volumes about Josh that his friends here at home went the extra mile to let him know how they feel about him, and to wish him a speedy and full recovery. We don’t know if the music video will win an MTV award (it should!), but it will long be remembered in the LAPD ranks as an outstanding tribute to Josh and the thousands of men and women who serve their country at home and abroad.

In just 36 photographs and four-and-a-half minutes of narration, photojournalist Robert Nickelsberg sums up one of the most compelling and accurate portrayals of what life is like for today’s LAPD in On the Streets with the LAPD, featured on TIME.com. The multimedia slideshow takes viewers from a ride along with specialized unit officers in the South Bureau’s Southeast and 77th Divisions, to working an investigation up close with K-9 and Gang Units. The slideshow is available for viewing on TIME’s website here.

“In an era of steep budget cuts, police officers’ work just gets harder,” says Nickelsberg, introducing his dramatic program. He notes that the combination of budget cuts, elimination of overtime and forced home leaves (T/Os) are contributing to the adverse reduction of police officers’ presence in the city, particularly areas where gangs have been challenging law enforcement for three generations. He continues on to address another concern affecting enforcement efforts, which is the requirement for members of specialized units to disclose personal and family financial records beginning in March 2011. This ill-conceived requirement from the Consent Decree is already driving officers away from the gang units where, ironically, they are most needed. If you’re unaware of how budget cuts and financial disclosure are inadvertently working together to create a perfect storm for trouble in our city, this presentation will be your wakeup call.

Regrettably, the drastic budget cuts and strict financial disclosure rules currently directed at hundreds of our specialized officers, will prove a lethal combination that will likely push police work in Los Angeles toward the breaking point.

The Mayor, Chief of Police and City Council would do well to be among the first to view this powerful presentation. It would make a good opener for a City Council meeting where LAPD issues are on the agenda. As city officials watch, we hope it dawns on them that the LAPD is at a crossroads: We can continue to build on the substantial progress that has been made in the past decade, or we can begin a long, painful slide back to a terrifying time in our city’s past, recently chronicled in a Los Angeles Times story.

We urge you to watch the TIME presentation while there is still time to reverse course and build on the progress of recent years. We have come a long way, but that also means we have a long way to fall if city leaders make the wrong choices and decisions in the months ahead. Our profound thanks to photojournalist Robert Nickelsberg and TIME, for visually telling the story that needs to be told -- and understood -- before it is too late.

To this end, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has smartly introduced the Utilizing DNA Technology to Solve Cold Cases Act of 2010 that instructs the FBI to create a mechanism for conducting familial searches of the national DNA database while providing appropriate privacy protections.

"The ‘Grim Sleeper’ was a case that spanned nearly 25 years of investigation and claimed the lives of 11 innocent victims," said LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. "It was not until we attempted to use familial DNA that our investigators got the clue they needed. Familial DNA testing proved to be an invaluable tool that assisted our detectives in the apprehension of the ‘Grim Sleeper’ murder suspect, and the ability to utilize the national database would strengthen that tool even further."

On July 30, the bill was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. It deserves speedy consideration and enactment. Many cold cases in Los Angeles and throughout the United States will stand a better chance of being solved, and give many affected families closure, once this common-sense legislation becomes law.

After ransacking the business and stealing money and marijuana, the robbers shot a store worker, Matthew and a security guard. Matthew died from his injuries and the guard is in recovery. Another suspect in the case, Daniel Hinton, 31, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. Police are also looking for information about the third suspect and driver of a getaway car.

Matthew was the son of Julie Butcher, regional director for SEIU 721, the Southern California Public Service Workers Union, which represents many city employees, including LAPD civilian personnel. The LAPPL Board of Directors joins Julie’s many friends and colleagues throughout the city in expressing its profound sympathies for the senseless death of her son. We are also determined to do all things possible to bring the killers to justice.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division Detectives Dennis English or James King at (213) 486-6890. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting “LAPD” plus their message to 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads). Additionally, you may submit your tip online via the Crime Stoppers website.

To put the era in perspective, in 1984 Los Angeles police investigated 757 murders, 240% more than they investigated in 2009, and 51,247 violent crimes, 216% more than they investigated in 2009, according to the Times story. And they had to do it with 2,000 fewer officers than today’s force. In South L.A. and the surrounding neighborhoods, LAPD detectives estimate that more than 100 women, almost all African American, were killed during that 10-year period. Some of the cases have been solved; others remain open. Detectives say many are tied to five serial killers operating in the area.

The story describes how police work and the LAPD are much different from 20 years ago. For one, today’s LAPD uses tools which weren’t available then, such as the Three-Strikes law, gang injunctions, DNA technology and new communications capabilities. All of that has been a factor in turning around what seemed like a hopeless situation at the time. This is not to suggest everything is rosy in policing L.A. Every day brings new challenges and threats. Today, we are having to work with fewer resources than in recent years due to the city budget crisis.

If you were a police officer in that era (1984-1993), stop and reflect on how much has changed since that most difficult decade -- to the benefit of our quality of work life, the Department and the City. If you are a relative newcomer to L.A. city policing, read the Gold-Blankstein article for an appreciation and better understanding of what law enforcement was like in those days and how far we’ve come.

National Night Out is part of a year-long community building campaign designed to:

Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from over 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 36 million people participated in National Night Out 2009.

The LAPPL urges its members and friends to attend one or more events this year to show your support for this worthwhile and productive annual tradition.

LAPD, once again, is setting the standard – this time for community outreach to youths through its highly acclaimed LAPD Cadets Program. One of the highlights of the program is the Youth Leadership Day, which is spearheaded by Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger. On July 13, more than 1,200 cadets attended the third annual event to discover the rewards of public service by spending a full day as a partner with a member of the Department's leadership team.

It was a memorable day for everyone, as witnessed by a great video posted at www.LAPDcadets.com. The day’s activities began with a keynote address from Chief Charlie Beck, who praised the cadets’ commitment to becoming the next generation of leaders. Throughout the day, youth participants had the opportunity to tour various LAPD facilities across the City, as well as observe presentations by SWAT, Dive Team and the Bomb Squad. Special thanks go to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Capitol Records, ABC 7 and NBC 4 for also opening their doors to these young leaders.

During this year’s enhanced program, the LAPD also presented scores of academic scholarships (which exceeded $10,000), laptop computers and other awards to students who distinguished themselves by academic performance and community service.

Youth Leadership Day is a great example of how LAPD is enhancing its youth initiatives to encourage young people to make the right choices, while making our neighborhoods safer.

As more details emerge (reported in today's Oakland Tribune), authorities believe Williams, facing a third strike, may have been planning a violent crime spree even more serious than the gunfight with the CHP officers. Police said Williams was wearing body armor and was armed with a high-powered hunting rifle, a pistol and a shotgun at the time of the stop. Inside the suspect's truck, police also found a suspicious object that prompted investigators to call a bomb squad. The object was detonated Sunday without incident as I-580 was closed in both directions for several hours.

Williams, who’s had a long and violent criminal history, has been out of prison three years on federal parole. Adding to the potential charges the suspect faces is a new state law - one championed by LAPPL and other law enforcement organizations - that restricts the possession of body armor by violent felons in California.

We commend the CHP officers for their expertise and professionalism in removing a dangerous suspect from society. We are grateful that all of the officers involved are OK and can return to full duty following normal administrative reviews. There is little doubt that they likely prevented a major tragedy with the potential magnitude of which we are only now beginning to fully comprehend.

That’s how Chief Beck characterized the arrest of Grim Sleeper suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr., on 10 counts of murder and other charges in killings in Los Angeles between 1985 and 2007. It marked the first time in the nation that familial DNA had been used to break such a high-profile case and that fact made it an even bigger news story around the world.

We agree with the Chief’s assessment of the significance of this long-awaited arrest. And we’re sure he will agree with us that this case is very much about old-fashioned undercover police work and the determination of LAPD officers and detectives to never close a case until an arrest is made and a criminal is brought to justice – even if it takes 25 years.

The arrest in the Grim Sleeper case came after an LAPD undercover officer, pretending to be a waiter, collected tableware, napkins, glasses and pizza crust at a restaurant where the suspect dined, according to multiple news reports. That enabled LAPD detectives and California Department of Justice officials to get the conclusive DNA match that led to Franklin’s stunning arrest.

As details of what led to the arrest emerged on Thursday, the father of one victim admitted he thought police had given up ever making an arrest. "It shows today that the long arm of the law still prevailed," said Porter Alexander, father of victim Monique Alexander.

Advocates of familial searches believe more crimes will be solved in which there is DNA evidence. Indeed, LAPD detectives are reexamining at least 30 unsolved killings of women in South Los Angeles to determine if they can link any of them to the man accused of being the Grim Sleeper serial killer.

To all the LAPD officers, detectives and command staff who tirelessly worked this perplexing and often frustrating case over the past quarter century, the arrest was a very satisfying and even exhilarating moment. It brought a sense of huge relief and a degree of closure to the victims’ families and communities. Much work remains to be done in preparing the evidence for prosecution and conviction.

For now, we savor this moment of outstanding interagency cooperation, effective application of cutting edge technology, and - above all - the dedication and perseverance of the justifiably proud men and women of America’s premier police force.

PoliceOne.com, meanwhile, reports that a disturbing trend from 2009 is continuing this year with four more single incident/multiple officer killings so far this year, including one shocking case in California: On Feb. 25, Fresno County Deputy Joel Wahlenmaier was shot and killed as he and another deputy assisted the California Fire Marshall’s office in serving an arson warrant. As they approached the suspect’s mobile home, he fired a rifle at the deputies, killing Deputy Wahlenmaier and wounding his partner. Officer Javier Bejar of nearby Reedly, Calif. Police Department responded to an “officer needs assistance” call and was shot and critically wounded immediately upon his arrival. He succumbed to those injuries four days later, on March 1.

As we pause to reflect on the tragic statistics, we remember each officer who made the ultimate sacrifice, while upholding their duty. We are also painfully aware that throughout our nation, law enforcement agencies are being asked more of with less resources. This frustrating fact puts all of us in law enforcement at greater risk. Clearly, there has never been a time where it was more important to stay vigilant and stay safe.

The latest COMPSTAT figures show that Los Angeles has had 161 homicides this year. When compared to last year’s 146 homicides during the same period—it indicates a 10.2% increase in murders.

While experts have various theories as to why crime generally increases in the summer, we know that a big factor is that people tend to drink more with hotter temperatures—giving rise to more alcohol-related incidents. We also know that the summer generally means more burglaries, because people are more likely to be out of their houses or on vacation, and tend to leave doors and windows open, making it easier for opportunist criminals to break in.

However, stopping crime in the summer can be as simple as following a few simple rules. Some of the easiest ways to protect yourself and your family include:

With LAPD officers being pulled from police field work to backfill vacant civilian positions, it’s more important than ever that Los Angeles residents be extra vigilant this summer. Another dramatic impact on our ability to respond to calls for service (and keep crime down) is LAPD having approximately 30 less police cars to cover a city comprising 469 square miles.

In our view, the Mayor would not be doing his job if he were not attending the high-profile events that spotlight our City’s accomplishments. We understand and support all the reporting requirements now in place, but if the issue comes down to money, then the Council should put money in the City budget to pay for the Mayor to attend high-profile events.

In order to keep the City of Los Angeles’ economic engine going, we need our Mayor promoting Los Angeles as a great place to do business and to live. We need to have a Mayor who promotes business development, supports local professional sports teams, works with the business and development community and civic organizations to further economic development and bring jobs to Los Angeles.

While the recent spotlight has been on acceptance of tickets and reporting, we think that the discussion needs to be expanded to the topic of needing a Mayor who will be the leader in creating a vibrant business climate—one that’s accessible, user-friendly and welcoming to all. We believe that part of achieving that goal is being a visible figure on the local, state and national stage.

The entire law enforcement community is reeling from the line of duty deaths of five California Highway Patrol officers in the last two months. The toll makes 2010 the deadliest year for the CHP in more than a decade. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families, friends and colleagues of these five selfless and dedicated officers who committed their lives to protecting the safety of millions of California residents and visitors.

As with any other law enforcement career, being a CHP officer can be dangerous. Officers provide public safety every day to those who are in need of our assistance whether it’s in a hazardous situation or a controlled environment. The CHP provides the best training available to ensure that the duties of an officer are carried out in the safest way possible, both for the public, as well as the officer. What makes these deaths especially hard to understand is that the officers were doing the right thing. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger summed up the feelings of many when he said, “Each has been a terrible loss for our state, and together they underscore what a dangerous job our CHP officers face every day. We can all help prevent tragedies and save lives by giving our officers space when they are making a traffic stop."

The members of the Los Angeles Police Protective League are united as one as we mourn the loss of these five outstanding officers:

Officer Brett Oswald

Officer Brett Oswald of San Luis Obispo died in the line of duty on June 27. He served as a CHP officer for 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Marlene Oswald; mother, Linda Oswald; and father, Richard Oswald.

Officer Justin McGrory

Officer Justin McGrory of Barstow died in the line of duty on June 27. He served as a CHP officer for nearly three years and is the son of retired CHP Lieutenant Robert McGrory. Officer McGrory is survived by his expectant wife Kelly McGrory; father, Robert McGrory; mother, Jeana McGrory; son Liam (1 year old); stepson, Cade Hamilton (4 years old); and stepdaughter, Erin Hamilton (7 years old).

Officer Philip Ortiz

Officer Philip Ortiz of Los Angeles died in the line of duty on June 22. Officer Ortiz served as a CHP officer for 28 years, including as a motor officer for over 20 years in the West Los Angeles Area. He is survived by his wife, parents, sister and a large extended family.

Officer Thomas P. Coleman

Officer Thomas P. Coleman of San Bernardino Officer died in the line of duty on June 7. He is survived by his wife, two young children, mother, three sisters and brother, LAPD Officer I Mike Loizzi of Devonshire Area.

Officer Daniel Benavides

Officer Daniel Benavides of the Border Division died in the line of duty on May 7. He had served as a CHP officer for more than 13 years. He is survived his wife and their 9-year-old daughter.

Like city policing, patrolling the roads and highways of our state, is a dangerous profession. We hope and pray it will be a very long time before we mourn the loss of any more of our fellow officers, regardless of which agency they belong to.

MEMORIAL FUNDS FOR RECENTLY FALLEN CHP OFFICERS

Memorial funds for Officers Thomas Coleman, Philip Ortiz and Justin McGrory:

Accounts are set up at CAHP Credit Union. Make checks payable to their wives (see below).

Mail checks to:
CAHPCU
PO Box 826
San Dimas, CA 91773

Officer Thomas Coleman – Make checks payable to Jamie Coleman

Officer Philip Ortiz – Make checks payable to Jessica Ortiz

Officer Justin McGrory – Make checks payable to Kelly McGrory

Memorial fund for Officer Brett Oswald:

SLO LEAF (Law Enforcement Assistance Foundation) (Identify Officer Oswald in the memo line or on a note with cash) 200 N. Halcyon Rd.Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

In an attempt to pressure the state of Arizona, the City of Los Angeles voted to boycott business with Arizona when it passed Senate Bill 1070 (SB 1070), which addresses illegal immigrants. Several months prior to this City Council action, the Los Angeles Police Department registered four Air Support Division officers to attend the annual Airborne Law Enforcement Association Conference, held at a different location every year. This year’s conference, hosted by the United States Border Patrol in July, will be held in Tucson, Arizona. This conference allows interaction with many other police agencies within airborne operations and is a forum to share valuable information that leads to safety and efficiency improvements among the participating agencies.

The City’s boycott, which banned official travel to Arizona unless “special circumstances exist,” led City Councilmembers Greig Smith and Bernard Parks to introduce a motion with the first request for an exemption to the policy. If passed, the motion would allow the four officers to attend this highly regarded conference, where they would exchange best practices with fellow law enforcement air support personnel from around the country. This week, the council took up the issue and then delayed making a decision by suggesting that private donors pay for the trip. Before the issue could be decided and donors secured, the LAPD suddenly decided to cancel the officers’ training, despite prior approval and long history of attendance.

Apparently, the LAPD command staff decided that it should spare the City Council the embarrassment of voting on this issue. By placing political correctness above public safety, the Department did itself no favors. Clearly the training, considered to be one of the premier trainings for air support policing, was important enough for the Department to approve sending them in the first place – despite the budgetary constraints and long before the City Council enacted its boycott.

While we have not taken a political position on SB 1070, we are supportive of an honest public debate on the Arizona law by elected officials. The decision to boycott Arizona was a political one by the City Council. The LAPD did their officers and the residents of Los Angeles a great disservice by jumping into the political arena to try to spare councilmembers from addressing a consequence of their prior vote.

The U.S. Department of Transportation tells us there are three forms of distracted driving: Taking one’s eyes off the road (visual), taking one’s hands off the steering wheel (manual) or taking one’s attention off driving (cognitive), any of which creates a greater risk of injury or death while driving. Because texting while driving involves all three, it is the most dangerous form of distracted driving. Other research has shown that drivers who send or receive a text message tend to take their eyes off the road for about five seconds, enough time for a vehicle going at highway speed to travel more than 100 yards. This helps explain why nearly 6,000 people died in crashes involving distracted or inattentive drivers last year and more than 500,000 were injured. Researchers found that the most frequent offenders are the youngest and least-experienced drivers – men and women under the age of 20.

Chief Beck noted that it is illegal to text while driving and he has instructed officers to enforce the law. Every time a motorist is stopped for such an infraction, he/she spreads the word to family, friends and coworkers that police are cracking down on the dangerous practice. As the word gets out, more and more people will comply with the law – for their own and others’ safety.

In our fast-paced, multitasking society – where we all feel time challenged – it can be very tempting to read and/or respond to text messages while stopped at a traffic signal or in gridlock. We certainly hope the campaign launched this week will cause people to take steps to avoid the temptation. If you find it hard to resist, try this: Silence your device and put it in the glove compartment until you reach your destination. You will be doing your part to make our streets and highways much safer.

(Photo: www.usmc.mil)

This Memorial Day is especially meaningful to the LAPD in the wake of the recent death of Sgt. Major Robert “R.J.” Cottle. R.J. was not only a 27-year Marine veteran who was killed in Afghanistan; he was a highly regarded LAPD SWAT officer.

This weekend we will remember soldiers like R.J. who are America's patriots and gave what Abraham Lincoln called the last full measure of devotion. Their ultimate sacrifice serves as a constant reminder of the high cost of freedom and the hope for a safer, more peaceful world.

Please take time this Memorial Day to do more than just mark a three-day weekend. We can all make a difference with our individual acts, such as saying a prayer for the families of those who have lost loved ones, visiting the grave of a fallen veteran, or attending or participating in a Memorial Day parade.

We must also remember those veterans who returned home physically but are emotionally scarred by the horrors of war – horrors that continue to haunt them years and decades after the battle has ended. We have a responsibility to our wartime disabled, an obligation that cannot be discharged by the passage of time, or excused by monetary constraint.

Memorial Day is about many things, but it is mostly about refusing to forget. In your prayers this weekend, please take the time to honor the memory of R.J. and other American veterans who fought to bring peace, freedom, and prosperity to the world.

Fourteen of the officers who received medals were involved in what is referred to as the Welby Way incident. On February 7, 2008, a 20-year-old gunman who had killed his father and brother barricaded himself in his parents’ home, causing a standoff when SWAT officers attempted to rescue additional hostages.

Receiving the Medal of Valor for their roles in this incident were: Officers David Keortge, Thomas Chinappi, James Veenstra, German Hurtado, Randal Simmons, Floyd Curry, Anthony Samuelson, Stephen Scallon, Michael Barker, Michael Odle, George Ryan, Mark Mireles and Bonnie Lehigh, and Sergeant Charles Buttitta.

Officer Mireles had also received two previous Medals of Valor, making him the first LAPD officer in history to receive the award three times.

Providing one of the event’s most poignant moments, a visibly moved Chief Beck presented a posthumous medal to Matthew Simmons, son of Officer Randal David Simmons. Killed in the Welby Way incident, Officer Simmons, a 27-year veteran, was LAPD's first SWAT officer to die in the line of duty.

Officers Steven Beumer of Hollywood Division, who was off duty at the time, and Alonso Menchaca of Mission area were awarded medals for their diligent and lifesaving efforts in rescuing the trapped driver of a burning vehicle on December 22, 2007.

Officer Eric Hammerschmitt received a medal for his heroic attempts to rescue a man and his daughter in another burning vehicle incident on the San Diego freeway on June 1, 2008. He managed to pull the driver to safety and rushed back to save the daughter. Sadly, despite Officer Hammerschmitt’s courageous actions, neither of the victims survived their injuries.

The Board of Directors of the LAPPL congratulates the 2010 recipients of the Medal of Valor. Your dedication to the highest standards of law enforcement, combined with extraordinary courage and bravery, are an inspiration to all who serve with you.

Opponents fear the law will become an excuse to terrorize Hispanics, who will be constantly challenged to prove they are here legally. They believe police officers will use the law as an opportunity to make life miserable for illegal residents in hopes they will pick up and go back home.

But where is the evidence for that?

Police officers are subject to closer review and scrutiny than any other public safety professional. Integrity and professionalism are their core values. Those who say we can’t trust our police to follow the law are basically saying we can’t trust our police – and we take issue with that.

Setting aside the inevitable tiny minority of bad apples found in any line of work, police officers in the United States are honest public officials deeply dedicated to not just enforcing, but obeying the law as they do their jobs.

While we are not taking a political position on the Arizona law, the fact is that it limits officers’ immigration status queries to people who have been legally stopped for some other reason. Even then, officers must have and be able to articulate in a written report the basis for a reasonable suspicion that the person is unlawfully present in the United States. This isn’t the pretext for a police state and it isn’t setting people up to be questioned while they are at an ice cream stand with their kids. It’s simply providing local and state police officers with the same kind of investigative discretion currently available to federal law enforcement officers.

Just like in Los Angeles under Special Order 40, illegal aliens who are otherwise law abiding residents should not fear the police. And just like Los Angeles, we think that everyone agrees that removing illegal aliens, who perpetrate crimes in our country, will make us all safer.

We are supportive of an honest public debate on the Arizona law, but let’s not make police officers’ ability or trustworthiness to constitutionally enforce the law, the underlying debate.