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CWA Police Division Decries Voter Intimidation by 'Bogus Cops': Calls on Law Enforcement to Protect
Washington, D.C. – The National Coalition of Public Safety Officers (NCPSO), the police and public safety division of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), called on its 19,000 members and other law enforcement officials around the country to take a stand against voter intimidation by police-look-alikes in the upcoming national elections. (View the full statement from NCPSO/CWA [Acrobat 1,758K].)
NCPSO, along with several other national groups, have voiced concern about increasing irregularities at polling places, directed primarily at minorities and the elderly, involving people illegally purporting to be law enforcement officers.
"The NCPSO believes it is important to let the American public know that public safety officers support our citizens' right to freely cast an official ballot for the candidate of their choice without pressure or intimidation," said the organization's president, Chris McGill, who is a police officer in El Paso, Texas. "Citizens who lawfully exercise their legal right to vote should be afforded every protection from state, local and federal law enforcement officials," McGill stated.
To underscore its position, the NCPSO has joined in the efforts of national civil rights advocacy groups including the NAACP and the AFL-CIO Civil Rights Department in encouraging voters not to be intimidated by bogus look-alike "cops." "In certain circumstances, impersonating a police officer is a federal offense, and we truly believe that those apprehended while engaging in such actions should be prosecuted under federal law, including specifically national civil rights laws," said McGill.
McGill noted that in recent elections, there have been many reports around the country of organized voter intimidation involving people dressed as armed guards or wearing official looking insignia, and driving cars with decals mimicking law enforcement agencies. Tactics such as photographing prospective voters and asking for their identification are often targeted toward minority precincts, McGill said, citing a study by the NAACP and People for the American Way.
"The 2004 Presidential Election is the most important campaign of this decade," said President Morton Bahr of the parent CWA. "Every citizen, particularly those in minority communities, should have free and open access to the polls. The National Coalition of Public Safety Officers and CWA are calling on law enforcement officers to protect the rights of all citizens to vote by keeping the path to polling locations free from obstructions thus ensuring a smooth election process on November 2, 2004."
NCPSO President McGill invited people with questions about this issue to contact Alfonso Pollard at 202-434-1315.
CWA represents 700,000 employees in telecommunications, IT, journalism and publishing, broadcast and cable TV, manufacturing, airlines and the public sector.
NCPSO, along with several other national groups, have voiced concern about increasing irregularities at polling places, directed primarily at minorities and the elderly, involving people illegally purporting to be law enforcement officers.
"The NCPSO believes it is important to let the American public know that public safety officers support our citizens' right to freely cast an official ballot for the candidate of their choice without pressure or intimidation," said the organization's president, Chris McGill, who is a police officer in El Paso, Texas. "Citizens who lawfully exercise their legal right to vote should be afforded every protection from state, local and federal law enforcement officials," McGill stated.
To underscore its position, the NCPSO has joined in the efforts of national civil rights advocacy groups including the NAACP and the AFL-CIO Civil Rights Department in encouraging voters not to be intimidated by bogus look-alike "cops." "In certain circumstances, impersonating a police officer is a federal offense, and we truly believe that those apprehended while engaging in such actions should be prosecuted under federal law, including specifically national civil rights laws," said McGill.
McGill noted that in recent elections, there have been many reports around the country of organized voter intimidation involving people dressed as armed guards or wearing official looking insignia, and driving cars with decals mimicking law enforcement agencies. Tactics such as photographing prospective voters and asking for their identification are often targeted toward minority precincts, McGill said, citing a study by the NAACP and People for the American Way.
"The 2004 Presidential Election is the most important campaign of this decade," said President Morton Bahr of the parent CWA. "Every citizen, particularly those in minority communities, should have free and open access to the polls. The National Coalition of Public Safety Officers and CWA are calling on law enforcement officers to protect the rights of all citizens to vote by keeping the path to polling locations free from obstructions thus ensuring a smooth election process on November 2, 2004."
NCPSO President McGill invited people with questions about this issue to contact Alfonso Pollard at 202-434-1315.
CWA represents 700,000 employees in telecommunications, IT, journalism and publishing, broadcast and cable TV, manufacturing, airlines and the public sector.