A Call for David Soares to Resign
From WTEN, Channel 10 TV
May 5, 2006 08:14 PM
Soares criticized laws he was elected to uphold.
Albany County District Attorney David Soares is defending his remarks
at a conference in Canada, saying that our drug laws do not work
and are only supported because they provide lucrative jobs for law
enforcement.
"The attempt to engage in cleaning the streets of Albany one
twenty-dollar sale on the street at a time is a failed policy," Soares
said.
Soares is under fire from law enforcement, city leaders, and now,
the union who represents Albany's officers.
"These officers who go out and put their life on the line every
day deserve more than what he said at that conference," said
Albany Police Chief James Tuffey.
"Don't criticize the laws you were elected to enforce," Albany
Mayor Jerry Jennings said. "Be aggressive and enforce the laws.
That's what we expect from him."
"It's a kick right in the teeth for the men and women who are
out there in this county and across the country fighting the war
on drugs, who are fighting to give our citizens back their neighborhoods
so they can enjoy them," said Chris Mesley, Albany Police Union
President.
Soares is defending his comments from the International Drug Conference
in Vancouver, as some in Albany call for his resignation.
"I'm hoping that some of the other law enforcement unions join
us in asking Mr. Soares to take his career in another direction," Mesley
said.
Soares says current laws target street-level dealers when they should
go after the suppliers. And even after drawing harsh criticism, he
is not apologizing for his opinion.
"I've been operating in a hostile work environment for the
last year and a half, Soares said. "I'm not expecting a different
environment when I return to Albany County."
Mesley says what Soares' comments really do is offer a safe harbor
to drug dealers in Albany. Soares contends that is all current drug
laws really do, is displace the crime, not reduce it.
Stay tuned to NEWS10 and wten.com for the latest on this developing
story.
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