Council formalizes police, homeland security connection on human trafficking
Charles DunlapAn informal relationship Columbia Police Department has with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on human trafficking and child exploitation cases was formalized Monday by the Columbia City Council.
A detective who already works on human trafficking-type cases will join a Homeland Security task force thanks to a 6-0 council vote. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe was absent Monday due to her attendance at the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio.
This investigative partnership will bring federal resources to the department, generally covering overtime reimbursements for the detective, said Chief Geoff Jones.
While the task force is under the auspices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the officer "will have no authority or responsibility to enforce any administrative violations of immigration law," per additional information provided by Jones to the council.
"We don't deport people. We don't help with that," Jones said.
He wasn't sure if the officer's position on the task force would lead to additional departmental training, he said, answering a question from Ward 4 Council Member Nick Foster.
"Typically when we partner with a different federal agency it opens up training opportunities for everyone. We've had that experience with the (Drug Enforcement Administration), in particular and (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms) and the FBI," Jones said. "I would anticipate it would open up some training, but it also will give our detective better experience and better access to resources to be better informed as to what training to recommend to us, even if we are the ones looking for that training."
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Residents who voiced concern in May leading to the tabling of the agreement are pleased with the language in the agreement that better lays out the investigative scope for task force membership. It didn't completely eliminate concerns, though.
"The practice of so many memorandums of understanding with so many different agencies takes policing further away from public accountability. They give other agencies broad leeway to use Columbia Police Department tools and (the department) broad leeway to use those agencies' tools," said Anthony Willroth, with Hold CoMo Accountable.
While the Homeland Security memo ensures the Columbia Police Department detective does not participate in immigration investigations, it does not necessarily mean that Homeland Security won't conduct deportations within Columbia, said resident Chriss Jones.
"There is nothing in the city ordinance preventing police from working with ICE on deportations," she said.
City Attorney Nancy Thompson clarified from a question from Foster that if Homeland Security changes its practices, they would not apply based on how the MOU is worded.
"Correct, The MOU controls," she said to Foster.
Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.