Ex-Riverside Chief Slams Chief In New York

RIVERSIDE, IL – Former Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel did something that he has never done in his entire 37-year career in law enforcement – and that's call out another chief.

Rochester, New York, Police Chief David Smith, who publicly scolded his officers for responding to an emergency request by Border Patrol agents on Wednesday, is "one of the worst acts of leadership I've ever seen," Weitzel said.

"No agency in America will not back up a fellow officer who puts in a call for help," Weitzel said. "This was not a response to an immigration issue; the Border Patrol called for immediate emergency assistance during a traffic stop on an enforcement operation. The Rochester officers responded to 'a call for help' by another law enforcement agency. If the officers had not responded, in almost every other agency in America, the officers would be brought up on charges of dereliction of duty or failure to act, but not in Rochester."

Chief Weitzel stated, "It's clear that Chief Smith was responding to the political ideology of the mayor, and the policies of the sanctuary city. But as I said before, this was not a sanctuary city issue but a call for help. I can assure you that behind closed doors, the mayor dressed down the chief and told the chief he must appear at the news conference and publicly scold his officers, or he'd be removed from the position of chief of police."

"I believe that Chief Smith was following the mayor's political agenda because he wants to keep his job, feather his nest for his next position, and is more concerned about the support of the politicians than he is the men and women of the Rochester Police Department. Every police agency in America would drop what they're doing to back up fellow officers, no matter what department they work for. You should respond, supply immediate assistance as needed, and then assess the situation."

Chief Weitzel said, "In today's law enforcement atmosphere, we're sorely missing authentic leadership; this is some of the worst I've ever seen. Chief Smith should resign immediately, and the citizens of Rochester, along with the police, should take a no-confidence vote. That's a significant statement because I have never called for a chief to be removed or a no-confidence vote. But in this case, it's warranted."

"I would also remember that when your officers need help and call for help, not only do other police officers come to assist, so do other agencies. We have nothing if we don't assist each other in law enforcement."