Legislature Notebook: Rally Supports Profiling Bill
Sun-News report
Posted: 02/13/2009
SANTA FE — Community groups from throughout the state rallied in front of the Roundhouse on Thursday in
support of HB 428 by Rep. Nathan Cote, D-Las Cruces, that would prohibit racial profiling and require police and
sheriffs departments to institute new training. The bill passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee
later Thursday.
The rally was organized by the Family Justice Campaign and included the NAACP, the Drug Policy Alliance, Somos Un Pueblo Unido and the New Mexico Conference of Churches.
"Racial profiling erodes trust between the public and law enforcement agencies and undermines community policing efforts," Cote said. "House Bill 428 would ensure that police departments implement policies, procedures and training to prohibit and prevent racial profiling and would help build a stronger partnership between the police and the communities they serve."
In the fiscal impact report on the bill, district attorneys complained that the bill would go too far. "In and around the border area, where a great deal of the drug trade and violent crime is influenced by Mexican drug cartels operating in our counties, this bill would create a nuisance level of claims of profiling because of that area's large population of Hispanics," the report said. "When word of this law gets out, every criminal could claim racial profiling and derail the activity on the criminal case."
