Stewart backs off criticism of Deane

Calling for Prince William police Chief Charlie T. Deane to resign because he agreed to meet with the Mexican consul and discuss immigration issues is a bit over the top, said one supervisor, responding to comments she has received from constituents.

"I have all the confidence in the world about the chief and e-mails calling for his resignation are very unfair. The board, the majority of us, do support him," said Maureen Caddigan, R-Dumfries.

The criticisms stem from a Thursday meeting between Deane and Enrique Escorza that was aimed at dispelling myths surrounding the county's month-old immigration policy and addressing concerns that arose from a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest of 34 illegal immigrants at a Manassas business. The raid and the county's immigration policy were not related, law enforcement officials have said.

The meeting has given rise to several comments from community members who worry a foreign government may be swaying local policy -- and it's this perception, especially, that's been echoed by the chairman of the Board of Supervisors.

"He didn't do anything wrong," said Chairman Corey Stewart, R-at large, in reference to Deane and his meeting with the consul. "I think we all support the chief. But I do want to know what meetings have gone on with foreign governments … and I'm very uncomfortable with any direct communication between the county staff and a government of [an impacted] country about our illegal immigration policy."

Stewart said he was also upset with the failure of Deane to inform him of the meeting in time to attend.

"Technically, he reports to the county executive," he said. "But he is a very senior official who reports to the board on a regular basis as well … and besides, we all work for the citizens, and it's all our jobs to make sure that citizens get the information."

Deane could not be reached for comment.

Caddigan, however, said Deane had sent out a press release advising of the gathering. The Potomac News had a front page story the day of the event giving the time and location at the Hi Mart in Woodbridge at 7 p.m. Caddigan added, too, that those who criticize the gathering on principle -- that the Mexican consul was given a voice in local government when Deane agreed to meet with him -- were "paranoid" and should understand the chief was only working to educate the public about policy.

But Stewart contends, "It's no secret the Mexican government does not support what we're doing, and I don't want the Mexican government influencing Prince William County policy with regard to immigration."

In brief, the fuss that's generated from this meeting seems to have given rise to two trains of thought: the first, that the chief was only acting in accordance with previous board mandates to hold informational sessions about the immigration issue and the second, that the chief went above and beyond this mandate by agreeing to meet with a foreign entity.

"I'm pleased he did it," said Supervisor Martin Nohe, R-Coles. "The board gave the chief very clear directions when this was [implemented], and that was to communicate with the public … From my perspective, this was just following our guidance."

Deane has held several other informational sessions these past weeks, three or four of which Nohe said he's attended.

"Different people react to them differently," Nohe said, "but I've learned some things."

For his part, Supervisor Wally Covington, R-Brentsville, said he supported the chief and would reserve any negative judgments until facts indicated otherwise.

"I defer to the chief on how he's educating people in this manner," Covington said. "I think that if some of us [on the board] would like to go these meetings, then I don't see a problem with that."

Deane could field some questions on the consul meeting at today's 2 p.m. presentation before the supervisors. But more likely, Nohe said, is that the chief or other attending law enforcement

officials will give greater detail about an emerging issue between the Adult Detention Center and ICE, in which the latter is reportedly failing to uphold all its agreements.

"Detainees are staying in jail longer than ICE had said they would stay," Nohe said. "I think the agreement said they would remove them within 72 hours."

That's not happening with all the detainees who are found to be in this country illegally, though, Nohe said.

"It appears our ability to detain prisoners exceeds ICE's ability to [remove and process] them," he said.

Col. Pete Meletis, who heads the ADC, could not be reached by telephone before deadline.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907 or cchumley@potomacnews.com.