DEAR EDITOR:

It was with no small degree of interest that I read Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington's comments in the Atlanta newspaper regarding the implementation of the Immigration & Customs Enforcement 287(g) program in Cobb County. Of particular note was his concern that Cobb's participation in the program might harm inroads he was trying to make into the Latino community in Atlanta and his opinion that this was not the best use of our law enforcement resources. I respectfully disagree with him of these assertions.

What he and perhaps many amnesty advocates fail to recognize is that the 287(g) program in Cobb County only affects illegal aliens coming into jail custody charged with local offenses. With or without the program, the Sheriff's Office is required to identify foreign nationals pursuant to the provisions of the Vienna Convention. These individuals must be advised of their right to contact their embassy and in many instances it is incumbent upon the jail staff to notify the embassy of the incarceration, regardless of what the arrestee might want.

One of the primary advantages of the 287(g) program is the access it affords to ICE resources which assist in the accurate identification of the arrestees. This, in turn, not only helps ensure proper notification but not infrequently results in the determination that the offender is also wanted for criminal offenses in other jurisdictions.

Another fact that he may have overlooked is that oftentimes the illegal immigrants coming into jail custody are being arrested for preying on the immigrant community. Taking these offenders out of the community makes it much safer for everyone.

It is unfortunate that a large number of immigrants have chosen to place themselves in a compromised position by entering this country illegally. However, that should never be used as an excuse or justification by a law enforcement agency for failing to effectively and fairly enforce our laws.

There are a number of very competent and professional law enforcement officers in Cobb County committed to insuring the safety of everyone living in or visiting our county. I personally do not believe that our officers engage in "profiling." However, Chief Pennington can be assured that if provided with factual information or evidence, rather than weak allegations, opinions, or perceptions, I will aggressively investigate and take appropriate legal or professional action.

All agencies in Cobb actively enforce our laws and those violating the law can well expect to find themselves in jail. Once in jail, every effort is made to accurately identify offenders, determine whether they are wanted in other jurisdictions and to insure that they are called to answer for the offense that resulted in their incarceration. This is what law enforcement is all about and what I believe the majority of the public expects and deserves.

Chief Pennington and I both well know that, as law enforcement officers, we are bound to enforce all laws, not just those that we personally agree with. Notifying other agencies, including ICE, of the identity of individuals they may have an interest in is required for the fulfillment of our duty and is paramount to the safety of our communities.

Although it is typically my policy not to comment on the way another agency performs its responsibilities, I would like to offer the following. From my perspective, a more traditional approach to law enforcement in the City of Atlanta might yield better results for its citizens and a smaller time slot on the morning news detailing the prior night's crime and violence.

It seems to me that Chief Pennington is unaware of the Cobb Sheriff's Office role in the 287(g) program. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with him and his sheriff to further explain the benefits of the program and how the partnership functions.

Neil Warren
Sheriff, Cobb County