Police reach out to Hispanics
By Nadine Parks
JOHNS ISLAND — Gustavo Sanchez overcame his fear of police and found himself shaking hands with several uniformed officers.
Mullen
Police Chief Greg Mullen, his command staff and several bilingual officers reached across the language barrier Tuesday night at San Juan Episcopal Church on Maybank Highway to meet with Hispanic residents on Johns Island. About 30 people accepted their invitation and spoke candidly about problems facing their community.
"We think this is important," Mullen told them through an interpretor. "We want this to be give and take."
Residents told the chief that many times they have suffered crimes in silence because they haven't found police to be responsive, nor were they able to speak their language.
One resident said they are treated differently because of their culture. A woman told an officer she was afraid police would rape her. Gunfire, assaults, drunk drivers and gang graffiti are a sampling of the crime they have seen in their community, they said.
Previous Stories
Residents, police meet to curb island crime; Authorities encourage help from community, published 12/06/07
Citizens advise police, published 07/23/07
Police Officer Hector Reyna is originally from Ecuador but has lived in the Charleston area for more than 20 years. He gave residents his phone number and, speaking in Spanish, encouraged them to call police when they have problems. He said that when they call, they can request a Spanish-speaking officer to help them.
Residents said they were afraid that if they called for help, officers would deport them. Reyna assured them that police aren't interested in their immigration status unless they commit a crime.
Mullen hopes to meet about once a month with the Hispanic community on Johns Island. Sanchez, of Edisto Island, said he will invite his friends next time. He said his fears were lifted by the end of the meeting.
"Now I feel like we have some sort of trust and the ability to express how we feel," he said through an interpreter.
Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.
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navywrslr (anonymous) says...
I am sorry,but the idea that the police are ignoring lawbreakers(ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS) is disturbing.
October 23, 2008 at 2:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cid95 (anonymous) says...
"Reyna assured them that police aren't interested in their immigration status unless they commit a crime."
WTF!!!! Entering the United States, or any other country for that matter, illegally IS A CRIME. ENFORCE OUR LAWS AND ARREST AND DEPORT THEM.
We do need a better guest worker program, but until then the law is the law. ENFORCE IT!
October 23, 2008 at 3:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NativeSon (anonymous) says...
They need an interpreter because they do not give a damn about America. They want only to take employment from Americans and do not respect the American ideal.
The disgusting illegals should be deported or executed, I do not care which.
October 23, 2008 at 4:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Slick50 (anonymous) says...
"Reyna assured them that police aren't interested in their immigration status unless they commit a crime."
Does it need to be a capital felony or will driving without a license or entering the country illegally do?
Showing Charleston's finest at their dumbest...nice move, P&C.
October 23, 2008 at 5:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
"Reaching out to hispanics"? This Mullen guy has turned out to be a disgrace. How about reach out and cuff their law breaking asses just like you would do us and send them back to whence they came!?
October 23, 2008 at 6:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
This is just disgusting. Police officers knowingly coddling to criminals.
From the article "Residents told the chief that many times they have suffered crimes in silence because they haven't found police to be responsive, nor were they able to speak their language."
This should read "...the illegal aliens were unable to speak English"
Just disgusting. I have lost all respect for Mullen. What a pasty. Is it possible for a citizen to arrest him for aiding and abetting?
October 23, 2008 at 6:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
FYI - according to Sheriff Al Cannon and other police administration, local departments do not have the authority to detain someone because of immigration status, and a call to the immigration authorities usually results in the response, "unless you have a whole car load, it's not worth our time to come get them". The police can only charge illegals like anyone else, and the judges set bond, so they get out as quickly as any other criminals.
I don't give a damn if the illegals are afraid of the police. The thugs sure aren't.
And ANOTHER thing - learn English if you are worried about a language barrier!
October 23, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tides (anonymous) says...
This is a waste of time. They should be arresting these illegals. This new chief wants to give the illegals a warm welcome hug. Maybe it's time the chief of the city police start looking for another job.
October 23, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tides (anonymous) says...
"Residents said they were afraid that if they called for help, officers would deport them. Reyna assured them that police aren't interested in their immigration status unless they commit a crime."
MY GOD! BEING ILLEGAL IS A CRIME! WHO IS THIS OFFICER REYNA?? A DOPE?
October 23, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
singleroni (anonymous) says...
what better example of slave market is the nfl- traded bought and sold but no one says anything- the money is good. if they are illegals they are criminals- they should be arrested- sad shape of things when we can ignore the laws we don't want to obey but go after speeders and litters.
October 23, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
Once again spankerbuns shows his ignorance. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt when I say ignorance, as it may very well just be stupidity.
spankerbuns, read the comments. No one has a problem showing basic human decency to people of a different skin color (are you a closet racist? All of your remarks tend to skew that way). We have a problem showing basic human decency to criminals. After all, criminals are NOT basically, humanely, decent.
October 23, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wackywahoo (anonymous) says...
When I read these comments, its more disturbing so read the ignorance on some of these comments. Nativeson, execute them? Come on, have something smarter to say. We all know that illegal immigrants to some extent annoy people, and that is not what is being questioned. The problem here is the crime going on in those communities, and police cannot do their job within a community that does not trust them. Let ICE take care of their citizenship status and let the police make places safer.
Learning english is easier said than done, but we wont even start to beat that dead horse. We might think it would make sense to round them up and arrest them but then the next thing y'all be complaining about are in increase in meth labs, shootings, drugs, and on and on and on. And where are the police with all this, oooops, arresting people who are here illegally trying to make a better living. Look at the big picture.
October 23, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlestonian (anonymous) says...
Truly disgusting response from the Police. I guess Charleston is now becoming a sanctuary city.
DEPORT THE ILLEGALS. Being here illegally is a CRIME..
October 23, 2008 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bones (anonymous) says...
Coldbud, "wantstobespanked" is not a closet anything. From their writing they are blatantly racist and very closed-minded. BTW, which laws can I convince the police that I don't want them to enforce...speeding, bank robbery, I choose to never be charged with DUI whenever I want! Does that work for you Mullen?
October 23, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
If all of the street corner drug dealers got together and complained to the police that they were getting robbed and shot at to often, and the police made a concerted effort to make the street corner drug dealers safer and prevent them from being victimized, would that be ok?
If all of the rapist got together and complained to the police that too many home owners were attacking them as they crawled through windows, and the police made a concerted effort to make rapist safer and prevent them from being victimized, would that be ok?
I agree that attacking the criminal illegal immigrants is not the right answer, as it would accomplish nothing but wasted time, effort and money. Supporting them and making life easier for them is, however, the wrong answer.
Solve the illegal immigrant problem by going after the people that supply them with jobs. That's the only real solution. In the mean time, quit wasting resources protecting, and coddling to, criminals. This has nothing to do with race, ethnicity or heritage. It has to do with crime and criminals. Policemen are paid to protect the public from criminals. They are not paid to support criminals in the act of a crime.
October 23, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
OK, P&C - find out what the laws are regarding illegal immigrants and the jurisdiction of the local police departments regarding same and include that information in these articles.
Apparently, few people know, and it only upsets them.
Good points, wackywahoo.
October 23, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wackywahoo (anonymous) says...
Coldbud, how could you possibly compare illegal immigrants to street corner drug dealers and rapists? Do you think logically, or just write the first thing that comes to mind? You must be more of an idiot than I imagined.
October 23, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
cnast777's post took the words out of my mouth. So exactly what crimes can citizens commit that will be ignored? Like it or not,the law is the law. There may be laws we don't all agree with but its the LAW! I don't wish for illegals to be victims of crimes. The bottom line is if for example: a legal citizen gets attacked by someone,cop shows up to help and finds a bag of weed in the victims pocket- do you think the cop would ignore it? All because you were a victim of a crime? Hell no! Or someone robs your house,cops come and find you have made moonshine. Will they ignore it? No. how many times have we read about cops busting people who actually called them for help? This is fn ridiculous! So cops now get to determine on their own which laws to enforce?
October 23, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LI58 (anonymous) says...
Don't worry about the illegals until they run over your child or husband or wife while DUI. Then we will worry about their status.
Don't worry about the illegals until our school taxes are double or triple what they are now due to the children of illegals. Then we will worry about their status.
Afterall, why be proactive when being reactive is so much easier and less complicated for our city, county and state governments!
October 23, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
If we want to put a stop to gang activity, particularly the dangerous (and overwhelmingly hispanic) gang known as MS-13; then police need to develop good will with the hispanic community.
I don't doubt that some of these people they are reaching out to are here illegaly, but if they're the victim of a crime they should be able to feel safe reporting it. It ticks me off that you have people working long hours, for low pay, and what little they have they keep in their homes because they can't have a bank account; and then some thug (who is here legally in some cases) breaks in and robs them because they figure the person will be too afraid to report it.
October 23, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wackywahoo (anonymous) says...
By the way, what has Chief Mullen done that is so wrong? He has approached a group of individuals who are concerned about the rising crime in the area. Chief Mullen did what had to be done, and my hat goes off to him. These people have been ostrazised and the police are reaching out to them. What could be wrong with that. Focus people, the ongoing issue about illegal immigration is a serious one, we all agree on that, but that is not what's going on here. The police extend their services to the community, and people have a negative reaction? Isn't that what they are supposed to do? Call me crazy, but this is what we want, police involved in the community they protect people regardless of their citizenship status.
October 23, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wackywahoo (anonymous) says...
Well said iceman1978...right on point, unlike some fools. Once again, an important issue arises and many miss the point.
October 23, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
Mullen is trying to get rid of the violent criminals. The baggy pants thugs, many who were born here and had every oportunity to make good for themselves. Instead they prey on the hispanic community and use attitudes like some of yours here to justify their actions.
October 23, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thebugqueen01 (anonymous) says...
Ok...most people here are missing the point of the article. The illegals are people too. EVERYONE has a right to police help when they are victims. Have American citizens lost their passion to help people?
Yes I don't like the fact that there are illegals here and we have to pay for their medical needs. I don't like the fact that they don't pay income taxes. But THEY ARE STILL PEOPLE NOT SOME DEAD DOG ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!!
We as Americans should respect that they gave up their families to come here. Sure they could have waited in line for the proper documentation. But in some cases they can't.
Isn't America the land of opportunity?
October 23, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCHoser (anonymous) says...
America IS the land of opportunity-but there is a right way and a wrong way. Why do we prosecute home grown criminals, but let those born in other countries off the hook? No one EVER said life was fair. We are lucky to be Americans, others are not so fortunate. Sorry for you luck-I will do what I can to help others, but at least go by the law. I have no problem with that. We have enough people who are citizens on welfare, getting free medical. We don't need MILLIONS more that are here illegally-pretty simple. No, we should not treat them like dogs, but we should not pamper them either. When law enforcement comes across illegals, they should detain them, and once a week send a bus load back. They are getting more from us than our own citizens, and that is simply unacceptable. Our country is in the middle of a financial crisis, and yet some here want to keep GIVING $$$$ to criminals. It boggles the mind. We must take care of our own first, then we will do what we can for others. I can not respect people "who leave their families to come here" illegally. Do it the right way, and you will have all the support this country has to offer.
BTW-I am not a racist, but a proud American!
October 23, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ColdBud (anonymous) says...
wackywahoo, you can call me an idiot if you wish, but this idiot is questioning your reading comprehension skills. As I stated in my post, the POINT made was that the police should not be assisting criminals in the act of a crime. It wasn't a comparison of the crimes. I agree that drug dealers and rapist are, generally, more dangerous criminals than illegal aliens (assuming that the illegal aliens are not rapist or drug dealers). The principle of police assisting criminals is just wrong. I could have just as easily used a bubble gum shop lifter as an example. If a policeman can decide, in his or her head, that they are going to help a criminal while that criminal is in the act of a crime just because they don't agree with the law; we're heading in a bad direction.
If it's true that the police have no jurisdiction when it comes to arresting illegal aliens, fine... that does not mean they have to support them.
I need to point out that I am in no way supporting the dirt bags that commit crimes against illegal aliens. Those dirt bags should be prosecuted to the fullest extent too.
October 23, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
Thanks wackywahoo.
What people need to understand is that those who terrorize the immigrant community are every bit as capable of doing the same thing to any of us. An illegal immigrant who is here working, saving money and trying for a better life isn't someone that I'm worried about. I can't say that I approve of it since I believe we should secure the borders to minimize this, but at the end of the day I would be more than willing to provide them with assistance in dealing with INS if they're willing to help us capture and deport people involved with MS-13.
October 23, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rebel_Yell (anonymous) says...
Immigration is a national issue and must be addressed by a national agenda. These are hard working people who are victimized by human trash who do not work and know that hispanics are less likely to report crimes against them. Most of you posters would prefer to stick your head in the ground and allow the violent crimes to continue further increasing the chance that one day they me feel ready to rob and rape one of your daughters. Good job far right, give the violent criminals a free pass as long as it's a hispanic. Nuts. The far right's leaders allowed the cheap labor force to get here in the first place, so the least the far right can do is allow the cops to look for violent criminals victimizing them until the nation addresses immigration reform.
October 23, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UnoCubanito (anonymous) says...
RETYPE THIS STORY.. POLICE REACH OUT TO THE ILLEGAL COMMUNITY WHO HAPPEN TO BE HISPANIC/LATINO... I AM LATINO AND A CITIZEN AND DON'T FEAR THE COPS BY NO MEANS. YOU ONLY FEAR WHAT YOU DO ILLEGAL AND KNOW DAYUM WELL IT'S ... I AM SOOOO TIRED OF THIS JOIN TOGETHER IN A CIRCLE AND SING HELP THE ILLEGAL
October 23, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PalmettoDP (anonymous) says...
Go to Mexico or Guatemala, overstay your visa (or over 3 months without a visa in Mexico), and complain to the police about something - I can assure that you will be arrested and they won't go out of their way to provide you a bilingual interpreter.
Past immigrants to the United States were forced to learn English - there was no bilingual education or foreign language outreach. Today's immigrants, some legal but mostly illegal, refuse to learn English because there is no incentive. I say send them packing.
October 23, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
The illegal immigration problem could be solved easily if so many American citizens weren't paid to sit on their behinds with the only requirement that they vote democrat to "spread the wealth" of the efforts of others. Yes I know an unskilled cheap labor job is beneath their dignity but charity and welfare is not. Especially when welfare pays more then a job. They may be unskilled or uneducated, but not stupid. There is a need for cheap labor everywhere. But it is just that, meaning labor that can be done at any time by anyone with no special skill or education.
And for those of you about to jump in here and scream racist and cold hearted conservative who wouldn't help someone truly in need through no fault of their own...
This finger was not made to press 1 for English!
October 23, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hillgirl (anonymous) says...
last time i checked being anywhere illegally is called trepassing.and being inthe USA illegally IS AGAINST THE LAW so why did officer renya say chas. police are not worried about immigration. they need to do their job and arrest illegal immigrants because it is against the law.if anyone is within our borders illegally they should be arrested and sent back where they came from regardless of where they are from.and this includes our local police force.
October 23, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JF (anonymous) says...
I am perplexed by the use of the term Hispanics in this article. Would not it be more accurate to describe this people as illegal aliens, undocumented aliens, or aliens of Hispanic descent? Does the P&C have a policy against using the term "illegal alien".
The headline says "Police reach out to Hispanics". The fact is the police are reaching out to people who are hesitant to call the police, because they are afraid of deportation after entering the US illegally. These people happen to be Hispanic. I have never seen a headline in the P&C after a community crime meeting on the Eastside saying anything like "City meets with Blacks on Crime". Continuously I hear the term Hispanic used when referring to illegal aliens.
I think the headline is rather insulting to Hispanics who are here legally and Hispanic citizens. I can only assume there is an agenda at the P&C to make illegal immigration a racial issue rather than a legal one.
October 23, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LocalTruth (anonymous) says...
I guess it is time for me to tell you that i am a racist by Black folks terms and that is fine with me.I am an African-American white male that sees "most" crimes committed by the majority of certain races. I base this fact on statistics, and stereotyping which is pretty accurate even though it mysteriously angers some people that have inferiority complexes. Anyway, i want to know if we can now get away with federal gun charges on the local level, federal racketeering charges on the local level, anything federal now that the local police refuse to get involved with federal matters. Can i? Of course not!!! This special treatment only applies to the illegal aliens!!! Remember folks it was only months ago when this same police chief tried to take the fun out of recreation by banning tailgating at the Dave Matthews concert and Banning ALL outdoor alcohol consumption regardless if it was a college party, St.patricks day, or a wine tasting event. After feeling some heat the chief responded with a special message to all- "We have to treat all citizens equally in regards to the law, we cannot pick which laws we should or should not enforce because that would be unfair and unjust to others" WOW!!! I have never seen so much egg on ones face. Why is he now going against his own reasoning? I have lost much of the respect i had for OUR police dept.
October 23, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pats2848 (anonymous) says...
Once again, I am not disappointed...Opening the Post & Courier articles to comments has just allowed the racists to spout off. Sad, I think, that there are so many narrow minded people. And how many white sheets hide in your closets just in case you feel the urge???
The police reached out and that is admirable. You people spout off your racial rants...that's what's disgusting!
October 23, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CHARLESTONIAN_SALVADOR (anonymous) says...
All the comments here have been very ethnocentric. No one came to steal a job you didn't want.
Charlestonian - What's disgusting? People are still people. Sure they are illegals, but they too are people. Not every "HISPANIC" whether they speak the language or not - are illegals. I have read comments where all I see is "Whining" about having a different culture sorrounding us. Get a grip on yourself and take a look around - what is this country all about? Where and how was it founded? Don't we praise our founding fathers for kicking the "INDIANS" out of their land? For impossing that English is the primary language? I can't complain - this is a awesome language, but I'm not a low self, ethnocentric selfish being that sits behind a computer and wait for others learn my language. I speak several languages and proudly my roots are Latino.
I hear all the huffing and puffing and it is plain ignorant. I understand there are lots of "negative" aspects to having "illegals" Take a challenge and if you think someone is taking a job from you, go get that job back! You speak ENGLISH - you can take the money they are getting paid. GO Republicans!!!!!!! Yey for going back in time! Slavery - (sarcasm)........ GEt real people.
October 23, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LocalTruth (anonymous) says...
I hear them called "spics" sometimes. I'm hearing "asian" "Chinaman" and "cheenk" are being viewed as words worse than profane language. I subscribe to a satellite radio program that constantly uses the f-word, but always stops short of saying the word "niggur" as if it was worse than profanity. It is not a cuss word folks! It is however very offensive as it should be, but not as bad as the f-word like some would want you to believe. I find no real use for the word myself, but i find it interesting how some groups "build" words into different beasts. Ethnocentric- made you feel smarter when you discovered the word from someone else didnt it? I bet it all started with the word "divisive" or dialogue" Your vocabulary is most likely smaller than we know.
October 23, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cid95 (anonymous) says...
"We as Americans should respect that they gave up their families to come here. Sure they could have waited in line for the proper documentation. But in some cases they can't.
Isn't America the land of opportunity?"
Yes, it is. But not for criminals! Illegally entering a country is a crime! Go almost ANYWHERE in the world, call the cops or have the cops called on your, and when they realize you are a foreigner they will check your residency status. If things aren't in order - surprise, you broke the law and will suffer the penalty for it.
Is America now some mickey mouse banana republic whose laws are partially enforced depending on the whim of the local police?
This problem has been going on for decades in the US, though it's just starting to plague SC over the past few years.
October 23, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tc1 (anonymous) says...
"Where and how was it founded?"
By legal immigration
"Don't we praise our founding fathers for kicking the "INDIANS" out of their land?"
The indians were killing each other and taking land from other tribes before we came. We were better at it and took it all. There is no inhabited land that was not taken by force some where in history so no one has a right to the land they own today by your logic.
Are you proposing that we ignore illegals so they can eventually take America because of how we came here?
October 24, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigwhip (anonymous) says...
This is an outrage!!!!!!!
October 24, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Lovely_One (anonymous) says...
Cracker_Jack, I admire your honesty. Would you like to do lunch some time?
October 24, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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