Doubt weaver poses what’s in a name
Re: the May 4 column by DeWayne Wickham (“Specter defection shows GOP in death spiral“):
Specter’s a Democrat, Madonna’s a virgin, and I’m a platypus.
Weaver Barkman
Native Tucsonan right fit for police command
May 1, the Tucson City Manager’s Office announced its nomination of Assistant Police Chief Roberto Villaseñor as next chief of the Tucson Police Department.
The Tucson Police Command Association fully supports the selection of Assistant Chief Villaseñor as our next chief.
Villaseñor was born, raised and educated in Tucson and has been a dedicated member of the department for 29 years.
He completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as executive-level management courses specific to law enforcement leadership. He worked his way through the ranks, assigned to many positions and large projects.
As an assistant chief, he has successfully led each of the four bureaus of TPD.
Villaseñor has been actively involved in many community organizations and law enforcement affiliations.
His training, experience and education have prepared him to lead TPD.
As Tucson’s professional police managers, from lieutenant and above, we feel the City Manager’s Office has made an excellent choice.
We will strive to make Chief Villaseñor’s vision for our department a reality.
We look forward to his leadership and have confidence that the citizens and leaders of Tucson will appreciate his professionalism, abilities and his sincere concern for, and commitment to, our community.
Lts. Edward Schlitz and James McShea
Capts. Michael Gillooly, Perry Tarrant and David Neri
Lts. Jamie Turner and Elise Souter
executive board, Tucson Police Command Association
Lawmakers take lawman to task
An open letter to Sheriff Clarence Dupnik: Due to your long history of involvement and commitment to the community, we were surprised by your comments in the print media.
Children in schools, regardless of their immigration status, are not the cause of our problems, nor should we publicly target them. We have an obligation to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
It is our responsibility to ensure our children are always safe and secure. All children are vulnerable, and we must protect them like they are our own.
It is wrong to force teachers and school administrators to become immigration officers. We remind you to uphold the law established by the Supreme Court ruling, Plyer v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982).
This case established that children, though not U.S. citizens, are considered a “person” and therefore protected under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
An additional cause of grave concern were your unsubstantiated charges that 40 percent of Sunnyside School District students are “illegal” and linking the South Side as the primary source of crime in Pima County.
These false charges are inflammatory and prejudicial. Your comments only further divide our community and debase a large part of the population.
The county electorate trusted you to protect and serve our community, not to humiliate and instill fear. Every child is entitled to an education regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation and status.
We urge you to apologize for your ill-advised comments and join us in a rational and honest discussion about solving our problems together.
Richard ElÍas, chairman, Pima County Board of Supervisors
Regina Romero, Tucson vice mayor
Adelita Grijalva, Tucson Unified School District Governing Board
Eva Dong, Sunnyside School District Governing Board
Daniel Patterson, state representative, LD 29
Matt Heinz, M.D., state representative, LD 29
Linda Lopez, state senator, LD 29
Jorge Luis GarcÍa, Senate minority leader, LD 2
Olivia Cajero Bedford, state representative, LD 27
Phil Lopes, state representative, LD 27
Raúl M. Grijalva, U.S. representative, Arizona Congressional District 7