Interview With Stockton Police Association President Regarding DA Salazar

209 TimesSan Joaquin County, Stockton Leave a Comment

“Based on District Attorney Salazar’s recent pro-criminal alliances, the Stockton Police Officer Association is not confident that she has victim rights in mind” 

The following is a written interview conducted by 209 Times’ Frank Gayaldo with Chuck Harris, President of the Stockton Police Officer Ascsociation (SPOA): 

209 Times:

District Attorney Salazar has called for the ending of police associations being allowed to donate to DA races. What are your thoughts on this? 

SPOA
⁃ It’s confusing to us that District Attorney Verber – Salazar wants to stop Police Associations from donating to District Attorney races, citing a conflict of interest, yet District Attorney Verber – Salazar apparently sees no conflict of interest in receiving donations from criminal defense attorneys who represent the suspects her office is in charge of prosecuting for alleged criminal conduct. District Attorney Verber – Salazar has accepted campaign donations from the Stockton Police Officer’s Association in the past, as well as donations from criminal defense attorneys. Police Associations need to be able to financially support a candidate for District Attorney who will fight for innocent citizens and who will join us in being advocates for victims of crime in our community. Victim rights need to come before criminal leniency. 

209 Times:

Some say the only reason you don’t support Ms Salazar is because she is trying to hold dirty cops accountable. Is there any truth to that? 

SPOA
⁃ Absolutely not. Anyone, regardless of their profession or economic status, needs to be held criminally accountable for their actions if their actions violate the law. Likewise, District Attorneys need to be held accountable to uphold the oath of their office to ensure innocent citizens aren’t continually victimized by repeat criminal offenders. 

209 Times:

Is the DA’s approach to the homeless effective, fair and humane? 

SPOA
⁃ District Attorney Verber – Salazar has given multiple interviews to the media about her homeless outreach efforts and her desire to provide those homeless in our community with resources to assist them. Officers from our Association do this on a daily basis, as we come in contact with homeless individuals in our community daily during calls for service or normal encounters. We share the same goal of assisting those who are homeless, connecting them with resources to get them back on their feet, trying to ensure their health and well-being. A topic we may differ from District Attorney Verber – Salazar on, is crime versus punishment, based on economic status. Regardless of economic status, and unless other mental health factors exist, most everyone knows right from wrong. Most everyone knows that, should they commit a criminal act that is not legally justifiable, there is a possibility they may face consequences for their actions. Having this in mind, if someone chooses to commit a crime anyway, the punishment should be applied according to the law, and not according to someone’s financial situation. 

209 Times:

Does the Stockton Police Officer Association have confidence in any of District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar’s policies and practices?

SPOA
⁃ We used to, but unfortunately, not any longer. District Attorney Verber – Salazar has been outspoken about joining her newly formed group, “Prosecutors Alliance”, which obviously focuses on the rights of criminals rather than the rights of those victimized by crime.

209 Times:

Does the SPOA plan on supporting Ms Salazar for her re-election bid in 2022? 

SPOA
⁃ Should District Attorney Verber – Salazar choose to seek re-election in 2022, we would not be supporting her. The victims of San Joaquin County have been through enough. 
To our Stockton citizens and those who come here to work and visit; You matter to us. Your safety matters to us. We work every day and night to keep you safe. You deserve a District Attorney who will do the same. 

209 Times:

Is the SPOA prepared to give Ms Salazar “a vote of no confidence”? 

SPOA
A vote of no confidence is usually given by those who work directly for a specific individual they’ve lost confidence in. We will leave that vote to those directly affected by District Attorney Verber – Salazar’s decisions and behavior. 
However, based on District Attorney Verber – Salazar’s recent pro-criminal alliances, the SPOA is not confident that District Attorney Verber – Salazar has victim rights in mind any longer. 

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