Commentary

May 21st, 2009

Come Home, Chief Maher!

In the interest of full disclosure, I must announce that I absolutely love Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher.

I have known him and worked with him for years, starting way back when he headed up the Escondido Gang Task Force and I was running a gang diversion group known as Los Caballeros de Aventura. I got to know Jim and his work, observed how strong his contacts with the kids were, observed his professional manner of taking care of business. As he moved up through the ranks I was very pleased. When he was named Chief of Police I was absolutely delighted. I don’t think the city could have chosen a better Chief of Police.

I witnessed pressure groups, chiefly El Grupo, try to intimidate him into not enforcing our traffic laws. He did not back down. Not one bit. It’s a public safety issue, pure and simple. I, like you, watched a groundswell of public opinion that supported him via Letters to the Editor, both here at The Paper as well as The North County Times, its Letter Section as well as their blogs. Chief Jim Maher was riding the wave of great popular support.

And then he went on record as supporting the issuance of driver’s licenses to illegals. Those who had supported him through thick and thin now began to scratch their heads and wonder what was happening?

How could Jim Maher, our Chief of Police, adopt such a contrary position? Of equal importance, why would he want to state this publicly? This is a political issue and Chiefs of Police are not expected to get involved in politics.

We have heard Chief Maher’s arguments. He stipulates that any legislation that gives driver’s license to illegals must require a full criminal background check, fingerprinting, a complete written and practical driver’s license exam. He argues then we know the illegals at least have demonstrated they know and understand the law, can follow proper driving instructions, and have the required insurance coverage.

We still admire Chief Maher but we are not convinced. The illegals broke the law by just coming here. We should not, we cannot, reward illegal behavior by rewarding the miscreant with any special privilege . . . and make no mistake about it. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

Congressman Brian Bilbray, California Senator Mark Wyland, and Assemblyman Martin Garrick, all oppose the idea of granting driver’s licenses to illegals and express surprise at Chief Maher’s position. Several council members have expressed to me privately their concern at the Chief taking a public and political position on this issue. It was not Chief Maher’s finest hour, nor his best exhibition of good judgment. But he’s an outstanding gentleman, a man of principle, and definitely should be retained as our Chief. The problem is, it’s awfully hard to unring a bell. He’s taken a public position. It’s rather difficult for him to reverse course now. But his is only one issue of many issues a Chief has to face. He will survive. We just hope he thinks things through a bit more before taking such a controversial public opinion.