Editorial: When trust is critical

Friday, May 18, 2007 | 7:21 a.m.

Our society should do whatever possible to make sure that victims of crime, including those who are in this country illegally, feel comfortable about reporting those incidents. In light of this, over the years Metro Police has attempted to build trust with the valley's immigrant community by not turning over to federal immigration authorities illegal immigrants who are reporting crimes or are innocent bystanders.

But as the Sun's Timothy Pratt reported Wednesday, the police investigation into the pipe bomb death of immigrant Willebaldo Dorante Antonio in the Luxor parking garage may have unwittingly shattered that trust with the Hispanic community. That's because federal agents also working the case detained three people at Dorante's home who were in the country illegally but had nothing to do with the crime.

We are concerned about the impact from the Dorante case. We could now have situations where victims of crimes will not report them for fear that they or innocent friends and relatives will be deported. Compounding the situation is that perpetrators who know that potential victims or their loved ones are candidates for deportation may be emboldened, knowing that those individuals will not report the crime.

This is a situation that warrants immediate attention by Metro Police and federal immigration authorities. Collectively, they must devise a strategy to ensure that victims of crimes have full trust in the local police.

If that trust isn't restored, Metro will find it tougher to pursue investigations and get violent criminals off the street, and all the energy the police expended to establish good relations with the Hispanic community will be wasted.