Police Chiefs to Meet With Attorney General Holder Regarding Arizona Immigration Law

Chuck Wexler Executive Director FOR PLANNING PURPOSES: CONTACT: Craig Fischer Police Executive Research Forum 202-454-8332 Cell 301-219-0043 cfischer@policeforum.org www.policeforum.org (May 25, 2010, Washington, D.C.)—A cross-section of police chiefs from major cities nationwide will join a group of Arizona police chiefs in a May 26 meeting with Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. to discuss their concerns about immigration legislation in Arizona and other states and at the federal level. Arizona police chiefs are concerned that the new SB 1070 law in Arizona will drive a wedge between the community and the police, and will damage the trust that police agencies have worked to establish over many years with members of all their communities. More than a dozen other states are considering laws similar to Arizona’s. Police chiefs from some of America’s largest cities are joining with their Arizona colleagues to express these concerns and to seek the Attorney General’s advice and discuss the ramifications of state and federal immigration laws. Following their meeting with the Attorney General, the police chiefs will be available to the news media outside Main Justice at the corner of 10th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. NW. at approximately 10:00 a.m. Eastern time Following their meeting with the Attorney General, the police chiefs will be available for a news media conference call at approximately 11:15 a.m. Eastern time. Please call 866-952-1906; Passcode: 7POLICE WHO: Phoenix Chief of Police Jack Harris Tucson Chief of Police Roberto Villasenor Sahuarita, AZ Chief of Police John W. Harris, President, Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police Los Angeles Chief of Police Charlie Beck Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey Houston Chief of Police Charles McClelland Minneapolis Chief of Police Tim Dolan San Jose, CA Chief of Police Rob Davis Salt Lake City Chief of Police Chris Burbank Montgomery County, MD Chief of Police Thomas Manger WHAT: Meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder Discussion of their meeting with Attorney General Eric Holder WHEN: Wednesday, May 26, 10:00 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday, May 26, 11:15 a.m. Eastern time WHERE: The police chiefs will be available at approximately 10:00 a.m. at 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, at the northwest corner of the Main Justice building. The Police Executive Research Forum is a Washington, D.C.-based national membership organization of progressive police executives from the largest city, county, and state law enforcement agencies. PERF is dedicated to improving policing and advancing professionalism through research and involvement in public policy debate. For additional information, go to www.policeforum.org.