Police Union: Optimistic About Talk with US Attorney General

PHOENIX - The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association headed to Washington this week to defend Arizona's controversial immigration law. Members met with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and now, they're talking about what they accomplished.

PLEA helped craft Arizona's immigration law. In the meeting with Holder, they emphasized it would not lead officers to racially profile against Hispanics. They're hoping their message will make a difference.

Members of PLEA, the union which represents more than 2,000 Phoenix Police officers, presented a case to Holder about the need for the immigration law.

"He said at the onset, I'm going to gather some information, this is a real meeting, I'm not doing it for show, I really want information. He asked no questions," says Levi Bolton with PLEA.

He says he told Holder about a city of Phoenix policy that's already in place. It allows officers to call in ICE when people are suspected of crimes.

Arizona Immigration Law - Senate Bill 1070:

Click here to read the entire bill online

Click here for a fact sheet/summary of the bill

Bolton says the new immigration law goes a step further, but will not encourage police to racially profile Hispanics. It was a point he hammered during the meeting.

"To be offended on behalf of 14,000 police officers in the state of Arizona, to say on July 29th we will somehow lose our professionalism and become racists... See, bills aren't racist people are."

The Attorney General and the president are considering whether to file suit to stop Arizona's immigration law. Bolton hopes that after their meeting, Holder will make a well thought-out decision.

"I'm optimistic because I'm going to take him at his word, he's the top cop. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Holder... I'm hoping that he will examine this very carefully and judicially."

The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association suggested this meeting with Holder, after noticing police chiefs from around the country were invited out to meet with the feds a while back.

Those chiefs were warning about possible civil rights violations with Arizona's new immigration law.