Shut up! Those two words are so abrasive and childish. Yet those are the words Maricopa County Deputies chose during a press conference last week to send a message to Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. At the heart of the matter was the 287(g) program which allows local law enforcement to investigate and enforce federal immigration laws. A congressional hearing convened in Washington to investigate allegations of racial profiling and unconstitutional searches and seizures by MCSO deputies.
Julio Mora, 19, of Avondale traveled to Capitol Hill to testify about his recent tangle with MCSO Deps. You see Mora is an American citizen who happened to be taking his Dad to work one morning. At the same time, MCSO was serving a search warrant on the senior Mora's employer, HMI. When the men pulled into the HMI parking lot, Deputies pulled them from their truck, zip-tied their hands and detained them for hours. When Mora's father asked to use the restroom, he was told no five times. The senior Mora, a diabetic, was finally allowed to pee by the side of a truck. When he asked for assistance because his hands were zip-tied, he was ridiculed and teased. Same for Julio Mora- he pee'd down the side of his pants. Remember, Julio Mora is an American citizen. He was detained because he unknowingly walked into an MCSO raid....and his skin was brown so he fit the profile.
So back to this press conference called by MCSO. Their press release stated it was in response to the Capitol Hill hearing. So the media high-tailed it downtown, cameras and mic's ready to hear some kind of rebuttal to what was happening in Washington. Instead, they said those two words "Shut up!" Really? Shut up? That's how you choose to respond to a congressional inquiry? I'd expect to hear those words from children fighting on a playground, not professional adults addressing a serious issue in our community. Yet those are the exact words Lt. Joe Sousa of MCSO's Human Smuggling Detail used to criticize Mayor Gordon during a press conference. He shouted those words with such venom and hatred- he practically spit all over himself! Now Sheriff Joe isn't exactly known for his tact and eloquence, however you would think his chosen mouthpiece would be a little more articulate when addressing the media on such a serious and controversial topic.
Makes me wonder...if MCSO Deputies use this language to address the public during a press conference, what kind of language do you think they use when rounding up suspected illegal immigrants here in Maricopa County? Kind of validates Julio Mora's account of what happened that day in an HMI parking lot.
http://www.azfamily.com/video/?z=y&nvid=348302
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Serial Shooter: Dale Hausner Jury
I have been a broadcast journalist for the past decade or so. Over the years, I have felt the thrill of being on the winning side of breaking news, and on the losing side. This week, not only was I only on the winning side of news, but the winning side of the justice system. The system doesn't always work, but this time it did. I'm talking about the Serial Shooter case of Dale Hausner in Phoenix, AZ.
Twelve men and women put their lives on hold to hear every gruesome detail that occurred when Dale Hausner and Sam Dieteman went on a random shooting spree across our metro area over a two year period. These men shot people (and animals) for sport. A man sitting at a bus stop. A woman walking to meet a friend. A horse grazing in a field. All in the name of fun. These killers lived in a fantasy world, where they no longer valued life. They sought power that was missing in their own lives. In a twisted search of pleasure and control, Hausner and Dieteman played God and took the lives of eight men and women and wounded numerous others.
But back to these jurors. There were a million excuses they could have given the judge as to why they could not commit to a 7 month long trial. Yet each one dropped everything to honor their civic duty.
A man starting out his career put everything on hold. Women and men enjoying the freedom of retirement. A single mom working to support her children. They set it all aside to fulfill their obligation to our justice system. In turn, they took a narcissistic sociopath off the streets and sentenced him to death.
Next time you receive a jury summons, forget about the inconvenience it will cost you in your life. Stop complaining about the parking, the crappy pay or the work you'll miss. It's a small price to pay to make sure justice is served and men like this are off the street. And in the larger scheme of life, wouldn't you rather feel safe walking from your office to fetch a Starbucks than worrying about whether you'll be the next target of a Serial Shooter?
To view the entire interview my talented co-worker Mike Watkiss conducted visit http://www.azfamily.com/news/homepagetopstory/stories/phoenix-local-news-040109-hausner-juror-speaks.9307e1b4.html
Twelve men and women put their lives on hold to hear every gruesome detail that occurred when Dale Hausner and Sam Dieteman went on a random shooting spree across our metro area over a two year period. These men shot people (and animals) for sport. A man sitting at a bus stop. A woman walking to meet a friend. A horse grazing in a field. All in the name of fun. These killers lived in a fantasy world, where they no longer valued life. They sought power that was missing in their own lives. In a twisted search of pleasure and control, Hausner and Dieteman played God and took the lives of eight men and women and wounded numerous others.
But back to these jurors. There were a million excuses they could have given the judge as to why they could not commit to a 7 month long trial. Yet each one dropped everything to honor their civic duty.
A man starting out his career put everything on hold. Women and men enjoying the freedom of retirement. A single mom working to support her children. They set it all aside to fulfill their obligation to our justice system. In turn, they took a narcissistic sociopath off the streets and sentenced him to death.
Next time you receive a jury summons, forget about the inconvenience it will cost you in your life. Stop complaining about the parking, the crappy pay or the work you'll miss. It's a small price to pay to make sure justice is served and men like this are off the street. And in the larger scheme of life, wouldn't you rather feel safe walking from your office to fetch a Starbucks than worrying about whether you'll be the next target of a Serial Shooter?
To view the entire interview my talented co-worker Mike Watkiss conducted visit http://www.azfamily.com/news/homepagetopstory/stories/phoenix-local-news-040109-hausner-juror-speaks.9307e1b4.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
