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Sheriff has supes' backing
Shar Porier/Wick Communications
With a unanimous decision, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors threw their weight behind Sheriff Larry Dever as he moves forward to address the problem of illegal immigration and smugglers by intervening in the legal battle over Arizona's Senate Bill 1070.
In a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 1, Supervisors Pat Call, Ann English and Richard Searle had to determine whether to authorize Dever to move forward with a legal position known as an intervention with Rose Law Group providing legal counsel for the proceedings. The motion included a waiver of participation by the county attorney's office.
Dever said, "As you are aware, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the state of Arizona and the case is in litigation. The Rose Law Group, which is defending me in the American Civil Liberties Union suit, also filed an intervention in the Department of Justice suit and is interested in keeping the discussion alive for us through these proceedings, at no cost to the county."
Dever also said people from all over the country have donated funds so the intent of the law is not pushed aside due to political posturing.
The intervention notice states: "No party is as familiar with the problems associated with illegal immigration, existing law enforcement procedures related to illegal immigration and law enforcement procedures that will be followed if (SB 1070) is implemented and enforced as Sheriff Dever." It goes on to say that Dever has a "unique and specific perspective" to present to the court as a border sheriff with 14 years of experience on border issues. His experience has also been recognized by Congress as he has been called to testify about the issues county residents and law enforcement face daily along the county's 84-mile-long border with Mexico.
Dever added, "This intervention provides us with an opportunity to express our unrelenting suffering. ... We have fought this tooth and nail and in spite of it all, the Obama administration dragged us into court and before the United Nations. I think it is clear that the Obama administration will stop at nothing. ... Will we sit idly by and wait until the next shoe drops, or will be remain actively engaged in our own security?"
And if one wants to talk about human rights, he'll cut them off quick with a response of the brutality and cruelty shown to innocent Hispanics who are driven into the desert and then shipped off to parts unknown to jobs that seem more like slavery. He is all for a legal path to immigration. He said he would support legislation that not only ensures the safety of county residents, but the safety of Americans by holding Homeland Security to its responsibility of securing the border.
Searle said he heard Dever's high points on the issue at a recent Farm Bureau meeting.
Call and English also support Dever fully.
But what can the county expect if it goes headlong into the fray? County Attorney Ed Rhein-heimer admitted he was concerned when he first heard about the intervention. "I'm supposed to keep the county out of trouble." After a talk with Arizona County Insurance Pool representatives, he felt more comfortable with Dever's decision. "I thought about the potential liabilities for the county, but I really could not come up with any," he said.
After the meeting, attorney Brian M. Bergin, with Rose Law Group, expressed his concern as he talked about riding with the sheriff in the remote areas of the county along the border. "I'm from Phoenix and I really didn't understand until then. I think it's hard for anyone to understand unless they come down here and see what happens."
Lynn and Jane Tilton from Hereford were just two of the 50 or so county residents who showed up to the meeting in support of Dever's endeavor. In an interview after the meeting, they said their home had been broken into, a vehicle was stolen and fencing was cut and fruit was picked from trees.
"They stole our pears," said Jane Tilton. "We're in favor of the immigration law that Arizona passed. Let them come into the country legally like our ancestors did. Let them go through the health checks and get sponsors."
Two e-mails were sent to the supervisors and the Herald/Review and reflected the emotions on both sides of the illegal immigration issue.
Letha Simmons from Mescal wrote, "I urge you to take a stand and support Sheriff Dever in his efforts to work on border security. By going in this direction, it will show that Cochise County means business and are willing to take care of their people. ... This is "not" an issue of race or someone's rights; it's an issue of taking back our country. Supporting our Sheriff is absolutely the right thing to do. The violence in Mexico is increasing on a daily level and is getting increasingly closer to the border."
The other from Debbie Collazo offered a different view: "Please do not appoint Sheriff Larry Dever to represent Cochise County in United States v. State of Arizona. This is not his job. Please ensure that he will be in Cochise County doing the job he was elected to do. Cochise County doesn't need a high profile 'sheriff/politician' like Maricopa County has."
With a unanimous decision, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors threw their weight behind Sheriff Larry Dever as he moves forward to address the problem of illegal immigration and smugglers by intervening in the legal battle over Arizona's Senate Bill 1070.
In a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 1, Supervisors Pat Call, Ann English and Richard Searle had to determine whether to authorize Dever to move forward with a legal position known as an intervention with Rose Law Group providing legal counsel for the proceedings. The motion included a waiver of participation by the county attorney's office.
Dever said, "As you are aware, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the state of Arizona and the case is in litigation. The Rose Law Group, which is defending me in the American Civil Liberties Union suit, also filed an intervention in the Department of Justice suit and is interested in keeping the discussion alive for us through these proceedings, at no cost to the county."
Dever also said people from all over the country have donated funds so the intent of the law is not pushed aside due to political posturing.
The intervention notice states: "No party is as familiar with the problems associated with illegal immigration, existing law enforcement procedures related to illegal immigration and law enforcement procedures that will be followed if (SB 1070) is implemented and enforced as Sheriff Dever." It goes on to say that Dever has a "unique and specific perspective" to present to the court as a border sheriff with 14 years of experience on border issues. His experience has also been recognized by Congress as he has been called to testify about the issues county residents and law enforcement face daily along the county's 84-mile-long border with Mexico.
Dever added, "This intervention provides us with an opportunity to express our unrelenting suffering. ... We have fought this tooth and nail and in spite of it all, the Obama administration dragged us into court and before the United Nations. I think it is clear that the Obama administration will stop at nothing. ... Will we sit idly by and wait until the next shoe drops, or will be remain actively engaged in our own security?"
And if one wants to talk about human rights, he'll cut them off quick with a response of the brutality and cruelty shown to innocent Hispanics who are driven into the desert and then shipped off to parts unknown to jobs that seem more like slavery. He is all for a legal path to immigration. He said he would support legislation that not only ensures the safety of county residents, but the safety of Americans by holding Homeland Security to its responsibility of securing the border.
Searle said he heard Dever's high points on the issue at a recent Farm Bureau meeting.
Call and English also support Dever fully.
But what can the county expect if it goes headlong into the fray? County Attorney Ed Rhein-heimer admitted he was concerned when he first heard about the intervention. "I'm supposed to keep the county out of trouble." After a talk with Arizona County Insurance Pool representatives, he felt more comfortable with Dever's decision. "I thought about the potential liabilities for the county, but I really could not come up with any," he said.
After the meeting, attorney Brian M. Bergin, with Rose Law Group, expressed his concern as he talked about riding with the sheriff in the remote areas of the county along the border. "I'm from Phoenix and I really didn't understand until then. I think it's hard for anyone to understand unless they come down here and see what happens."
Lynn and Jane Tilton from Hereford were just two of the 50 or so county residents who showed up to the meeting in support of Dever's endeavor. In an interview after the meeting, they said their home had been broken into, a vehicle was stolen and fencing was cut and fruit was picked from trees.
"They stole our pears," said Jane Tilton. "We're in favor of the immigration law that Arizona passed. Let them come into the country legally like our ancestors did. Let them go through the health checks and get sponsors."
Two e-mails were sent to the supervisors and the Herald/Review and reflected the emotions on both sides of the illegal immigration issue.
Letha Simmons from Mescal wrote, "I urge you to take a stand and support Sheriff Dever in his efforts to work on border security. By going in this direction, it will show that Cochise County means business and are willing to take care of their people. ... This is "not" an issue of race or someone's rights; it's an issue of taking back our country. Supporting our Sheriff is absolutely the right thing to do. The violence in Mexico is increasing on a daily level and is getting increasingly closer to the border."
The other from Debbie Collazo offered a different view: "Please do not appoint Sheriff Larry Dever to represent Cochise County in United States v. State of Arizona. This is not his job. Please ensure that he will be in Cochise County doing the job he was elected to do. Cochise County doesn't need a high profile 'sheriff/politician' like Maricopa County has."
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
To voter wrote on Sep 10, 2010 1:21 AM:
" Maybe if the Federal Government did their job of securing our border, our sheriff's could spend their time doing what they are hired to do. Have you seen the signs the Federal Government posted near Casa Grande? The warn U.S. Citizens to stay away from that land, because of known drug and human trafficing by armed and dangerous persons. Really? U.S. Citizens are warned to stay off U.S. property? We all need to stand up and request (or demand) that the Federal Government do ITS job, so we can continue to do ours. I, for one, will back those willing to do so. "
voter wrote on Sep 8, 2010 8:38 AM: