By Barbara Grijalva - email
Tucson, AZ (KOLD) - A Phoenix police officer is in trouble with his department for doing an interview with an online media outlet.
The interview about Arizona's new immigration enforcement law, SB 1070, is on Facebook.
The whole thing brings up some questions about where, when, and in what context a police officer can speak his mind.
What Phoenix Police Officer Paul Dobson allegedly did wrong on Facebook might have more to do with department policy than with free speech rights. He certainly did express some very strong thoughts during this interview.
"This law would make me feel like a Nazi out there," he said.
Later he said, "This law is, pure and simple, a racist law. It is focused on Latinos."
Officer Dobson said who he is.
"I'm a police officer in Arizona. I work for the largest jurisdiction, the City of Phoenix. I, of course, don't represent the city of Phoenix in any way, or the city of Phoenix Police Department. My opinions are my own."
We called the company that placed the edited interview online.
A spokeswoman said Dobson called them, and did the interview about SB 1070 from his home, via Skype.
The Phoenix Police Department reportedly is looking into this. But, apparently it's not about the First Amendment, but about police department policy.
Dobson did not have a supervisor's permission to do an interview. The Tucson Police Department is one of many that have a similar policy.
Capt. Michael Gillooly, TPD Chief of Staff said, "If one of our officers identifies himself as a police officer of the Tucson Police Department, we ask that they obtain prior approval. Held...at the same time we again expect them to always remain professional."
Phoenix Police Officer David Salgado and Tucson Police Officer Martin Escobar are filing lawsuits opposing SB 1070.
You might wonder about the difference between them speaking up in and about a lawsuit, and Dobson speaking up online.
People who file lawsuits enjoy certain privileges.
Tucson Employment Law Attorney Don Awerkamp said, "Because the law wants to encourage people to be allowed to express things and not be worried about retaliation or repercussions."
And there is a First Amendment right as well.
No, it's not the one about free speech.
"A person who is a government employee is protected under the First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances. That's one we often times forget in the First Amendment," Awerkamp said.
No word yet on what the Phoenix Police Department will decide to do.
Reportedly, a reprimand or minor form of discipline is the usual Phoenix Police Department punishment for granting an interview without permission.
©2010 KOLD. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
