Comuniqué to Phoenix Chief of Police Daniel Garcia

Comités de Defensa del Barrio

c/o Tonatierra Community Development Institute

PO Box 5118  

Phoenix, AZ 85010

April 10, 2012

Chief Daniel Garcia

City of Phoenix Police Department

200 W. Washington

Phoenix, Arizona  85003

Dear Chief of Police Daniel Garcia,

The Comités de Defensa del Barrio, comprised of 15 community based neighborhood groups, are families united to defend their neighborhoods, their civil rights, their human rights, their original indigenous rights, as well as the rights of Mother Earth.  We organize throughout the Phoenix and Maricopa County areas to better our neighborhoods, our schools, and our living conditions. 

We congratulate you on being chosen to serve as Phoenix's police chief and appreciate your commitment to “policing with a purpose, protecting democracy, ensuring justice, with a strong spirit of service to the entire community that includes fairness to all the community, in order to protect people from harm”. 

Although you will not begin your service until May 15th, we would like to invite you to the Esperanza Barrio Defense Committee meeting to inform you of some ongoing community policing concerns.  The Community meets on Thursday April 19th at 6:30 PM at the Macehualli Day Labor Center located just south of the Bell Rd.and  25^th Street  intersection. The exact address is 16801 N. 25^th Street.

We want to highlight through a very specific case a widespread problem with the Phoenix Police Department. Late last year, many families approached us with concerns of racial profiling by  Motorcycle Officer Graham.  We met with PPD liaison Sandra Renteria, Commander Klima and Commander Piña to explain and formally complain about the systematic actions of Officer Graham. Unfortunately, the result was only to transfer Officer Graham to the Palomino Neighborhood.  A neighborhood targeted by minutemen, and hate groups for their work center and their heavily populated Mexican and Guatemalan community. Officer Graham continues to profile community members stopping them for no reason other than asking for their license and insurance. Not one moving violation is cited on many of the tickets.

Please let us know if you can make this very important meeting with families.  You may call us to confirm your attendance at 602.314.5870 or email us at anayanse@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Anayanse Garza

Community Organizer

Comites de Defensa del Barrio

c/o Tonatierra Community Development Institute