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CLEAR Temp: 48 °F Wind: SSW at 5 mph Wednesday, February 5, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 31, 2003 City denies blocking anti-Patriot Act issue Ashland Patriots group wants the City Council to approve a resolution outlining how much local police may cooperate with federal authorities By JOHN DARLING for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Despite claims that city officials are being obstructionist, the City Council expects to consider a resolution to curtail local support of federal searches and surveillance under the federal Patriot Act. One council member said he expects the resolution will be approved at the Feb. 18 council session. The Ashland Patriots, a local group and authors of the resolution to curtail local police, had complained Wednesday that city officials had met their proposal with "procedural roadblocks, delay and obstruction." Paul Copeland, organizer for the Patriots, said in a Wednesday news release that top city employees had refused to meet with the group, research the legality of the proposal or put in on the council agenda. But City Councilman Don Laws, a supporter of the resolution, said the Patriots were "all wet" and didn’t understand the process. The council voted Jan. 21 against putting the proposal on an upcoming agenda, following a request by the Patriots, a citizen group organized specifically to promote the resolution. Since then, council members have studied the proposal and a majority have come to support it, said Laws. Laws said its main council proponent, Councilwoman Cate Hartzell, will propose in Tuesday’s meeting to place the resolution on the council’s Feb. 18 agenda. "The (Patriot Act) law is a bad one and probably unconstitutional, but I for one didn’t understand the proposed resolution at the time," said Laws. "I thought it might force our police to violate the act, when in fact it tells them not to do certain things unless directed to do so. It gives them an out." The resolution: Directs police to get written assurance from federal authorities that suspects detained in Ashland will get open hearings with counsel. Police are not to help federal agents without this assurance. Requires "suspicion of criminal activity" before police investigate, watch or gather information on individuals or groups based on political, religious or social views. Tells police to disregard race, religion, ethnicity and national origin in investigations unless they are part of a suspect’s description. Makes police give suspects advance notice of searches and refrain from helping federal agents without that notice. Requires police to refrain from helping or encouraging citizens to help "spy on their neighbors" under the TIPS (Terrorism Information and Prevention System) initiative. Copeland said city officials, including Mayor Alan DeBoer, were "resisting and slowing down the process" because they felt the resolution was not appropriate city business. DeBoer has spoken publicly against the resolution, saying it would divide the city and consume time and resources needed for major municipal issues. City Attorney Paul Nolte declined the Patriots’ request to meet with him or begin legal research on the resolution because he can act only at the council’s direction, he said, and that has not happened yet. Copeland said the resolution is "straightforward" and charged that "the notion that it will be necessary for the City Attorney’s office to devote substantial resources to reviewing the language is simply misinformation." Nolte countered that legal research on the resolution will be considerable, adding, "I’m not exactly the Maytag man sitting here twiddling my thumbs waiting for something to come in." Any public hearing on the resolution would not be heard until the Feb. 18 session. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S