Religious Leaders, Anaheim Discuss Jail Policy

Some of Southern California’s top religious leaders met Wednesday with Anaheim’s police chief and city manager over a controversial policy that allows INS agents to question suspects detained in the city jail.

The religious leaders issued a short statement after the unusual closed-door session saying that the conversation was “fruitful and informative” and that “mutual concerns of how to better serve our community were discussed.”

City and police spokesmen also issued brief statements, saying that they plan to continue working with the churches and were pleased with the open communication between the groups.

The meeting comes at a time when the city and representatives of the Latino community have reached an apparent impasse over the city’s ties with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. INS agents stationed at the jail are allowed to question suspects about their citizenship and legal status.

Over the last several months, Latino activists have protested repeatedly outside City Hall, but the City Council has remained firm behind the policy.

Among religious leaders at the meeting were Roman Catholic Bishop Tod D. Brown of the Diocese of Orange; Murray Finck, bishop of the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Episcopal Bishop Coajutor J. Jon Bruno of the six-county Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles; Jane Odell, interim executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Los Ranchos, which serves 59 congregations in Orange and Los Angeles counties; Father Rafael Luevano of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange; District President Larry Stoterau of the Pacific Southwest Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod; and Bishop Jaime Soto, auxiliary bishop of Orange.

Together, the leaders represent a wide range of religions and thousands of people in Southern California.

Some church leaders said their members, primarily in the immigrant community, have complained to them that Anaheim police were stopping them without cause and questioning them about their citizenship.

In a previous interview, Soto said, “We’re concerned as pastors that, if some of these reports are true, the Anaheim Police Department could be undermining a very essential, important relationship with the community.

“Our primary motivation here is to try--in the midst of what has become a very volatile issue--to keep the attention focused on what is the best interest of public safety and good public order. . . . We’re looking for opportunities to work together.”

Both city officials and the religious leaders said they plan to continue meeting.

“I think the way we view the meeting is as a positive, constructive first step,” city spokesman John Nicoletti said.