Based On "Hearsay," Linda Moore Accuses IRC Sheriff’s Office of Targeted Racism.
IRCSO responds. Mayor Cotugno and Moore silent on formal apology.
At the March 11th City Council meeting, councilman, John Carroll, speculated about costs and manpower needed to implement VBPD Chief, David Currey’s recommendation to assist US Customs Immigration and Enforcement (ICE) with enforcement policy. Chief Currey answered funding concerns by sharing that DHS is providing "millions of dollars” through the state. Chief Currey added that training will be moved to a virtual platform, so officers do not have to travel.
Yet, Vice Mayor, Linda Moore, was stuck on the popular progressive narrative of ICE. She questioned about ICE agents riding in local police cars and taking over supervision of VBPD. Chief Currey said this Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been around since 1996. He added that it is not unlike agreements made by VBPD to assist the DEA, FBI, or other DHS departments in federal cases. He said, “We are going to conduct ourselves as we always have.”
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Moore followed-up, asking Chief Currey, “But, in the County when ICE agents rode with the Sheriff’s department, they were pulling people over kind of randomly, and they were targeting people who were in work trucks because they were brown people, — Can you tell me that is not going to happen in the city?”
Chief Currey assured her that the VBPD would not be doing what she alleged the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) was doing. The Sunshine Journal sent a public records request asking for evidence that informed her claim of racial targeting and ICE doing ride-a-longs in IRCSO vehicles. By phone on Friday, March 14th, City Clerk, Sherri Philo, answered the public records request. She said, “Vice Mayor Moore's response was that her evidence was 'anecdotal hearsay from the community.’"
The Sunshine Journal reached out to the IRCSO to confirm if the “hearsay” was true. By email, IRCSO Public Information Officer, Captain Joseph Abollo replied, “ICE agents did not ride along with Indian River County Sheriff’s Office deputies, nor did they conduct traffic stops targeting individuals based on race or the type of vehicle they were driving. We strongly refute any baseless claims made that allege or insinuate that our deputies pulled people over randomly or that our deputies were “targeting” work trucks. Such statements made during the City Council meeting were not supported by any factual evidence. The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to transparency and lawful policing practices that prioritize public safety without bias.”
Captain Abollo also described in his statement Operation Stonegarden, an ongoing federal and state partnership to assist with immigration enforcement for the purpose of public safety and boarder security. On January 30th, IRCSO reported 8 adults being arrested on state charges and another 2 dozen being detained by ICE for investigation. The IRCSO report also stated, “One of the criminal detainees in ICE custody has been deported four times. Another had previous charges for sex offenses, one was out of jail on bond, and yet another had charges for the criminal use of personal identification information.”
Mayor and Moore remain quiet on false allegations.
The Sunshine Journal reached out to Mayor Cotugno for comment on Moore making the accusations without any evidence. Copied on the email were the Vice Mayor and the City Clerk. Mayor Cotugno responded by referencing the passing vote by the City Council. Mayor Cotugno said, “The City will abide by all the requirements and responsibilities outlined in this MOA. The City Council, having sworn an oath to uphold the Florida Constitution and duly enacted laws, will ensure that the MOA is fully supported…”
Moore had made other assumptions. She opened the discussion saying ICE’s MOA infringed on home rule even though it granted more authority to participating law enforcement agencies through certified training. She factually noted that Vero Beach hasn’t had issues with immigrant crime from certain populations. With discrimination, she said, “We have had one total arrest of a Hispanic person last year, and, the City of Vero Beach had zero murders last year.”
Yet, Moore failed to recognize that roughly 50% of illegal immigration is from other than Latin American countries. According to US Customs and Border Protection statistics, illegal migrants are from elsewhere, such as Haiti. Last February, in a joint operation with the Fish and Wildlife Commission and Brevard County, the IRCSO marine division participated in apprehending a boat with 25 illegal Haitians, drugs, guns and 5 unaccompanied children at the Sebastian Inlet. According to US Customs and Border Patrol, Haiti is a top 10 nation of origin for illegal immigration.
However, these realities didn’t stop Moore from spouting further assumptions. She continued, “We would be subject to ICE direction and supervision. I don’t think our police officers need any direction or supervision from ICE… We don’t need that kind of heavy-handed response that we saw in the County. I think that it’s divisive in our community - it pits us against each other, and I am not on board…”
Chief Currey assured the Council that officers were deputized and only assist ICE. After her opinionated statements, there was a smattering of applause for the Vice Mayor, which caused her to smile and to acknowledge the audience with a sheepish “Thanks.”
The City Council of Vero Beach voted 3-2 to direct Chief Currey to assist ICE in immigration enforcement. Councilman Carroll dramatically paused for 17 seconds before muttering, "I am going to vote, No."
Not quite hearing, Mayor Cotugno asked him for clarity. Carroll spoke assertively, “No.”
Following Carroll's drama, Moore voted "No" as fast as she jumped to conclusions about the IRCSO.
Most of the so called “Brown” people Moore is citing as being targeted by ICE are violent recidivist felons, gang and cartel members, etc… Somebody should ask this myopic liberal elitist how she would feel if these illegals live in her neighborhood. It is better to be assumed ignorant than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt. There is no crime in being a clueless politician. We have plenty of them. But someone like her who also makes such wild, significant and vile allegations based on nothing but hearsay is not worthy of the public trust and at the very least is a liability. Besides being ignorant and biased she also is reckless and grossly irresponsible and needs to be ousted from office.