Training police on new law [SB 1070] approved: Concern remains over what ‘reasonable suspicion’ can be
PHOENIX - A special board approved plans Wednesday to train police officers on how they can and cannot enforce new laws aimed at catching illegal immigrants.
But the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board left a key issue that triggered much of the controversy - what constitutes “reasonable suspicion” for police to question someone about their residency status - unresolved for now.
The board ratified plans to create a video of perhaps 60 to 90 minutes explaining the key elements of SB 1070, which requires police, as part of any stop, detention or arrest, to check someone’s immigration status if there is “reasonable suspicion” the person is not in this country legally.
Executive Director Lyle Mann stressed officers watching the video will be told they cannot engage in “racial profiling” or even consider someone’s race, ethnicity or national origin.
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