A Letter To The Undocumented In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Petaluma police Chief Brian Miller this week addressed community concerns related to local immigrants and the potential for mass deportations.

"We understand that many of our community members, especially those community members without legal documentation, might feel anxious, uncertain, or worried about their status and that they may have questions about potential changes, or fear of mass deportation. I want to address those fears directly," Miller said.

"Law enforcement leaders throughout Sonoma County are committed to preserving community safety and holding those who commit crimes accountable. In accordance with the California Values Act (SB 54), state law, and our department’s policies, we are prohibited from and do not initiate any action to determine a person’s immigration status. Our officers do not detain, question, or arrest someone solely to determine whether they are undocumented. An individual's immigration status is not relevant to criminal investigations, nor does it impact the mission of our local law enforcement jurisdictions. These longstanding laws and policies are in place to make sure that everyone in our community—including those community members without legal documentation can come to us to report crimes or ask for help without the fear of being detained, deported, or arrested.

"As your police chief, I recognize that our ability to maintain and improve community safety is contingent upon keeping the trust and confidence of all our community members. I encourage anyone who has witnessed or been the victim of a crime to report it to us, without worrying about their immigration status. Your safety, the safety of your family, and the safety of our entire community are always our top priority.

"We are a community that values diversity and inclusivity; we strive to welcome everyone in our community. We will continue to work together to ensure that everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect, just as we will continue to police our community by protecting the vulnerable from harm and ensuring that everyone has equal protections under the law. I am proud to be a part of the City of Petaluma team where we have strong city values that further reinforce these concepts and commitments to our entire community.

"I, along with the other law enforcement leaders of Sonoma County who make up the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs Association (SCLECA), have collectively drafted the attached letter detailing our commitment and unified voice on this important issue. SCLECA includes the 12 chiefs, the Sonoma County Sheriff, and the Sonoma County District Attorney. Please see the below message from The Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs Association."

Sincerely,

Chief Brian Miller