Steve Levy wants to disband the SCPD

[Taxpayer]

Just what I was saying -

Disband the degenerate Cops and Deputize all of em- make em Sheriff's

Glad to see Levy read my posts and is listening.

This will get Stevie FOUR MORE YEARS. - WOO HOO.

[DEPORT THEM]

This is Stevies first step in disbanding the SCPD in favor of a Department of Public Safety run by the Sheriff.
Stevie wants to "Deputize" police officers to handle immigration problems. Doesn't this county already have Deputies? Nice try Stevie we can read between the lines here.
Besides isnt the Sheriff the one to "Deputize" someone, being he is ELECTED NOT APPOINTED?



Levy hopes to make cops immigration agents
By Bart Jones
Staff Writer

November 3, 2004

County Executive Steve Levy's proposal to "deputize" Suffolk police and make them immigration agents is provoking protests from advocates who say it will alienate newcomers from cops and make them reluctant to report crimes for fear they will be deported.

Only two other places in the country -- southwest Florida and Alabama -- have deputized law enforcement officials, giving them the same powers as immigration agents. Police departments around the country generally oppose the idea because they say it builds walls between them and immigrants, and they don't want to mix criminal law enforcement and civil immigration law.
"I think it'd be a disaster both for the immigrant community and for everyone else in Suffolk County because it means that people are going to be afraid of reporting crimes," said Patrick Young of the pro-immigrant Long Island Immigrant Alliance. The plan would "destroy any trust the immigrant community had in the police."

Despite the concerns, Levy strongly defends his position. He contends deputization could be a valuable tool in his new campaign to combat unscrupulous landscaping and home improvement contractors who depend on undocumented immigrants from Latin America for their manpower.

"We're the first administration that is refusing to ignore what has become an illegal, underground economy that exploits workers, residents and those companies that try to play by the rules," Levy said.

Deputization is a new and little understood concept. Police departments nationwide already have the power to report to immigration authorities undocumented immigrants who commit criminal offenses, and often do. But deputization expands their powers, allowing them to detain immigrants solely for being undocumented. It also allows them to more easily question immigrants about their legal status and to initiate deportation proceedings. For instance, when making routine traffic stops police can ask to see immigrants' legal papers.

To be deputized, police officers must undergo formal training by the Department of Homeland Security for several weeks, with the training paid for by local authorities. Levy said he hopes to implement a deputization pilot program in one precinct, and expand it if successful. He can order the plan on his own and does not need authorization from the Suffolk County Legislature.

Publicly, Suffolk police officials say they are open to the proposal. "It's worth a try out here and we'll see what happens," said Insp. Robert Ponzo of the 6th Precinct, which includes Farmingville.

But privately, some police officials call the idea misguided. "I don't want to get involved" because the immigrants generally are hard-working people who aren't a threat to society, said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The proposal is part of a campaign Levy launched this summer to crack down on contractors. To enforce the plan, police officers are conducting sting operations against contractors, requiring them to show they are licensed and following other laws such as paying workman's compensation insurance. Contractors also will be required to show proof -- "I-9" forms -- that their employees are legally authorized to work, Levy said.

As he weighs adding deputization to the campaign, Levy is staking out territory few public leaders have ventured into.

Supporters of deputization say it acts as a "multiplier" to supplement federal immigration agents. Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C., said there are only 2,000 immigration agents in the country not including those assigned to the border, but 700,000 local police officers. There are an estimated 8 million to 10 million undocumented immigrants.

"It's a good idea," Krikorian said. "The benefits are enormous. The costs, if any, are quite small."

Critics say the policy can cripple police efforts like those during the 2002 sniper shootings in the capital area. At one point, then-INS head James Ziglar and Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose appeared on television to plead with undocumented immigrants to contact police because they believed some witnessed some of the shootings but were afraid to come forward.

Deputization is "fuzzy and it's radical and it's got serious consequences," said Angela Kelly of the National Immigration Forum in Washington, D.C. "It's about the most damaging thing that could happen to an community."

Attorney Gen. John Ashcroft opened the door to deputization in 2002, and that year officials in southwest Florida were the first in the nation to adopt the plan, training 35 agents.

But E.J. Picolo, special agent in charge of the Ft. Meyers office of Florida Department of Law Enforcement -- a kind of state FBI -- said their program is focused narrowly on finding terrorists. They generally do not target undocumented Mexican migrant farm workers who pick tomatoes and oranges.

The 9/11 terrorists "are the kinds of folks we're looking for, not an illiterate Mexican individual who's struggling to make a living," he said. "In my opinion, we'd be taking our eye off the ball to do stuff like that."

In Alabama, the State Department of Public Safety deputized 23 agents last year to try to crack down on the use of phony documents to obtain driver's licenses and people's failure to obtain car insurance. Col. Mike Coppage, head of the department, said the program also is narrowly focused and not intended as a massive crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

"We do not want to go out and be INS agents and do massive sweeps and raid orchard and chicken factories," he said.

If deputization comes to Suffolk County, many immigrants -- already nervous about Levy's contractor crackdown -- say they would drift even more into the shadows. "It would be very different in terms of approaching the police" to report a crime, said Mexican day laborer Jesus Alcaraz, 31, as he stood on a corner in Farmingville this week waiting for work. "Instead of approaching them, I'd run away."

Still, Levy's proposal and crackdown are gaining some support. "I'm so pleased, proud and relieved to have a county executive stand up and take on this issue full-force," said Joseph Caracappa, presiding officer of the Suffolk Legislature.

He was speaking at a meeting last week hosted by former members of the controversial Sachem Quality of Life Organization where Levy also spoke to the public for the first time about his deputization plan.

At the meeting, the former SQL members, who have formed a new group called Greater Farmingville Community Association, handed out literature calling the Mexican day laborers "low-level terrorists" who have "invaded" and "occupied" the United States.

Levy said he disapproves of such language, but added that most of the 80 people at the meeting had legitimate concerns about the immigrants such as overcrowded housing. "All you want to do is enforce the law," Levy told the crowd.

[200dot35]

deputize us as ins agents, not as scps more power, more training....more money, niiice

[PINTO]

cant a cop stop someone and ask him/her for papers and if they are illegal, send them off somewhere to be shipped the frig out of here. what am i missing?

why cant cops just grab all those guys on the corner and have them all sent back to where they come from?

[Illegals]

that is the craziest thing - ok - so i guess that dme suffolk county executive is on the right track.

[Landscaper Patrol]

Where does it say disband? All I see is it gives us more authority and work without adding more cops. We all know how much landscaping crime there is out there.

[Cost to taxpayer]

To be deputized, police officers must undergo formal training by the Department of Homeland Security for several weeks, with the training paid for by local authorities. Levy said he hopes to implement a deputization pilot program in one precinct, and expand it if successful. He can order the plan on his own and does not need authorization from the Suffolk County Legislature.


We can't get training in the things we need. How many PO's EMT license is expired. I myself have not been re certified in CPR training in about 12 years. They can't send PO's to the range for re qualification during the summer because it would incur OT. They change paperwork/add computer programs and never once send anyone to a class. So tell me how on earth are they going to get every PO in for this training for several weeks at a time w/o incurring OT? Also budget squeezing Levy is going to have the county pay for the training?

[GH]

NO

[sounds good]

of course the county has to pay, who else is going to? as he will when 1/2 before end of tour when every car in brentwwod, ci, farmingville huntington, patchogue, gordon heights grabs a illegal to rake in some o/t,hopefully we have to transport somewhere silly like riverhead. then when our contract is up, we can use the additional responsibility as cns deps to get a better deal from arbitration. stevie will request some federal funds

[Taxpayer]

i see where this is going, cops run around and arrest these people when it suits them, like the prior poster stated, right before end of tour. then bilk the county for hours. i would imagine the highly esteemed COPE units will make a killing, then the jaywalkers and suspended drivers could breathe a bit easier.
then of course when this contract that stevie the paper exec. could nt prevent run out, the union has another feather under its cap for binding arbitration.
can you say the 1st 200,000 cop?

[wrong]

"we can use the additional responsibility as cns deps to get a better deal from arbitration. stevie will request some federal funds"

I assume you mean INS dep?
Considering FEDERAL Ins agents make LESS than a SCPD PO I don't see how you could SCAM the county for a pay raise!

And SHAME on you PO's willing to do this, don't you realize your taking food out of brother LEO's mouths ?
Instead of trying to find more ways to SCAM Suffolk taxpayers maybe you should use your unions powers to get more jobs for FEDERAL Ins agents.

Typical mentality of Suffolk Po's these days, wanting and trying to do EVERYONE elses job, and sticking your HAND out for it too!

[scpd patrol]

"Cost to the Taxpayer" is correct!

Where are we going to keep all of these people? The Suffolk system would be overwhelmed.

Wait until the lawyers get involved after the first illegal alien is collared/detained. What will happen to the ones that get ill or die in custody? There will be an outcry worse than when a US citizen does.

Does Levy really believe that the feds will reimburse the county for the costs involved?

[Brown]

"Where are we going to keep all of these people? The Suffolk system would be overwhelmed."

The system is ALREADY overwhelmed!

But I guess Stevie would want them kept in the jail facility the county DOESNT WANT BUILT!!!!

[A Cops Cop]

Are you guys nuts?? Why on earth would you want to do more f*cking work for the same pay?? Especially bullsh*t immigration work. As far as squeezing OT out of it, OT is not guaranteed, never is, so don't count on that. Its generally the first thing slashed in times of fiscal crisis. Who the hell wants to get involved in INS stuff if you're a cop? Cops laugh at INS and Customs agents - wannabe cops they are.

Plus, look at that moron "Wrong" who just posted - the typical way of how taxpayers look upon the work that cops do. Instead of saying good job or nice work, they feel that cops are always looking for more and are malcontent. The public sucks - do for yourself. Do the least work, keep your head low and take the tax payers money.

[Relax]

relax just a bunch of pos messing with the post we really dont care if we do it or not

[u want o/t]

are going to be involved you know it'll be crime control, cope and the rest of the kissyboys
after all for 4 weeks of training who's gonna handle the calls?

[been there]

Quote:it'll be crime control, cope and the rest of the kissyboys
You're either jealous or can't keep up. Probably both. Don't dis everybody else just because you're an envious slug. Do your twenty and leave. For our sake and the taxpayers sake.

[35 zone]

1st of all who says im in patrol?
im stating a fact as a supervisor. who is the only needed command? 110,210,310,410 etc. without those valuable patrol officers, you accessory commands wouldnt exist, because you would be picking up calls
think before you speak, i know you do when you're sucking up to meD">

[35 zone]

a cops cop or a lazy cop? i dont care either way if we get stuck doing this or not, if we are ordered to do this this will result in major overtime.if you cant get overtime on illegal immigrant arrests, you must be working in head of the harbor.
and it will be a bargaining chip for both soa,and your pba for additional compensation and more hires.
county sees this as a win/win very few people are concerned about the no comprehende's rights, and are very concerned about their neighborhoods, property value.

[scpd patrol]

Obviously we will need CCU to do the job!!

The plan is very simple:
Plainclothes PO's ONLY
Multiple landscaper trucks (DWI seizures)
Pull up early in the AM and SUCCESS

[no deputies]

well it was voted down, oh well guess we'll never know

[scpd patrol]

Thank you SC Legislature! See today's Newsday? Dormer was for the plan , but had no idea what was going to happen to those picked up (where they'd be lodged/held ) The process needed to be thought out much better.

[Tax Man]

Mr. Levy

Just another bad Idea.

[Politics as Usual]

Maybe he will find more trailers for them to be detained, like he did with the Brook Motel people. It's just a matter of time before we get a woman raped over by the Election and DPW buildings; I sure hope it's not one of our family members. Another brilliant idea by Steve, Door-Mat and Social Services!

[Levy Levy]

Oh mr levy

cops are paid too much and are too busy.

[jp beauceron]

in reference to your post about scpd that ended like this;''Typical mentality of Suffolk Po's these days, wanting and trying to do EVERYONE elses job, and sticking your HAND out for it too! ''
answer one question; have you ever taken our test?
if so were you of the many middle aged last test with 92.5s that didnt make the lottery?
though so

[pd987876]

not true

not truewhat r u trying to bury?

bump