Kilmartin Stands By Secure Communities Program
Friday, July 15, 2011
An initiative supported by Attorney General Peter Kilmartin that allows local law enforcement to run the fingerprints of anyone arrested against both FBI criminal history records as well as immigration records took a major hit this week when Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said he plans to withdraw his city from participating in the program.
Menino was one of the earliest supporters of the Secure Communities program and Boston was actually one of its pilot cities in 2008. But Menino expressed concern with the direction the program was going after being made aware that low-level, nonviolent criminals are often the ones subject to federal sanctions under the plan.
But despite Boston’s pushback, the program will continue running in Rhode Island, according the Kilmartin’s office.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Attorney General Kilmartin is committed to the Secure Communities program,” Spokeswoman Amy Kempe said this week. “He believes it is an important tool for law enforcement in Rhode Island.”
Providence Asked To Opt-Out
The debate over the program made headlines earlier this winter when Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare informed former head of the State Police Brendan Doherty that the capital city would like to opt-out of Secure Communities.
Pare said fear and mistrust would undermine to program.
“The success of our city’s community policing program has been based on the trust developed between law enforcement and the community — especially the immigrant community.” The fear and mistrust will undermine that program,” he wrote in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security.
Doherty called the city’s request “dangerous and irresponsible” before being silenced by Governor Lincoln Chafee. Doherty handed in his resignation weeks later and is now running for Congress as a Republican in the 1st Congressional District.
Ruling May Allow Cities To Opt-Out
While Kilmartin has said cities and towns are expected to follow the program, city officials say their position on the issue has not changed.
With Boston leading the way, the city may get its chance. Menino’s comments came after a federal ruling in New York where a judge determined that the Department of Homeland Security must provide information on how municipalities can opt-out.
Other cities, including San Francisco and Hartford, have expressed interest in avoiding Secure Communities as well.
More Effective Policing
But Kilmartin maintains that the initiative makes for more effective policing.
“Just as having access to the FBI database revolutionized information sharing among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, Secure Communities continues to improve communication and cooperation with all federal law enforcement partners,” Kempe said. “Secure Communities just adds another level of security screening when offenders are arrested for committing crimes.”
Kempe said the program makes communities safer.
“Secure Communities simply gives our law enforcement agencies another tool; in essence, an improved database,” she said. “Anytime law enforcement has greater access to information that will help identify individuals in custody, it helps them do their job of keeping our communities safe.
Community Activist: It Breeds Animosity And Division
But that doesn’t mean community members haven’t raised concerns. Bruce Reilly, a community activist based in Providence, said Secure Communities causes fear in the Latino community. He said families are less likely to go to the police for help.
“It creates greater fear of the police in communities of color, including those who have Latino families (like myself),” he wrote in an e-mail to GoLocalProv. “Basically we won't ever call or cooperate with police, and I would go nuts if I have to bring my child's birth certificate to the station to prove she is legal.”
Reilly said the program only encourages racism.
“Ultimately it breeds animosity and division, and encourages race-based politics. It may be "secure communities" for White suburban areas; if so, they should put all their police in those gated places where people are afraid,” he said.
Kilmartin: No Problems So Far
For now, Kilmartin’s office says the program will continue.
“Since it was implemented in Rhode Island, the Office of Attorney General has not heard of any problems with the program or the communication between local, state and federal officials,” Kempe said.
