Many questions swirl in our community regarding the role of local law enforcement in controlling immigration and deportations. As Santa Rosa Police Chief, I want to provide clarity and reassurance on SRPD policies, practices and procedures.

I have been a police officer for over 25 years, and during that time I have seen a shift in law enforcement priorities. I am proud to lead an organization that is leading the way for change. I firmly believe that the fundamental purpose of law enforcement is to protect vulnerable people from harm. It is our responsibility to protect and serve all Santa Rosa residents, regardless of their immigration status. As chief, I want to ensure that all members of the community can seek help from the police department without fear of immigration-related consequences. A safe and vibrant community relies on the ability of all members of our community to be able to contact law enforcement officers when police resources are needed.

The State of California has established clear parameters for the role of law enforcement in immigration matters. Senate Bill 54 – the California Values ​​Act – prohibits state and local law enforcement from detaining individuals solely on the basis of federal immigration detainees or transferring them to the custody of federal immigration authorities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without a valid federal or state warrant. This law also prevents us from questioning individuals about their immigration status and restricts the use of agency resources for immigration enforcement purposes, including interrogations, investigations, detention, detection or arrest for immigration-related matters.

The Santa Rosa Police Department has operational policies that ensure all officers adhere to the principles of the California Values ​​Act. As our city’s leader, I want to go beyond the law’s basic protections and work to build a culture of trust in our community. Santa Rosa police officers strive to keep our neighborhoods safe with a focus on relationship policing as we work with our community to combat crime and safety. This relational policing begins with building a service that better represents the community we serve. Currently, we are proud to have 49 civilian and sworn staff members who identify as Hispanic, and we are building a diverse department representing many ethnicities and cultures. Our mission in recruiting and hiring law enforcement professionals, both sworn and civilian, is to recruit, hire and retain the most qualified candidates who best represent our community.

I hope to use this conversation as an opportunity for me to learn more about the fear and uncertainty in our community. I want to learn how the police department can build stronger relationships with Santa Rosa’s most vulnerable. I will be out in the community listening to concerns and working to ensure that our undocumented residents truly understand that the Santa Rosa Police Department is committed to serving and protecting all residents of our city.

I have spoken to each of our local law enforcement officials in Sonoma County, and this commitment to protecting our vulnerable community extends throughout our county. The Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association has released a joint letter Committing our organizations to follow state law and avoid immigration enforcement. Our Sonoma County law enforcement officials are united on this critical community concern.

John Creegan is the Santa Rosa police chief.

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