In contrast to the Stockton Police Department’s pledge to not work with federal immigration officers, San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow is taking a more middle-ground approach.
He supports victims, but not lawbreakers.
In his monthly video report for January, Withrow acknowledged lots of questions and anxiety concerning President Trump’s plans to carry out mass deportations. Withrow offered reassurance that crime victims — regardless of their immigration status — shouldn’t worry if they need help from the Sheriff’s Office.
“Anyone who is in our immigrant community, reach out to us if you’re being victimized,” the sheriff said. “You don’t have anything to worry about, the immigration side of it. When you deal with us, we’re here just to protect you and make sure that you and your families are safe.”
But in the videotaped remarks from Jan. 16, Withrow said his office will continue to operate as it always has when dealing with “bad people” who are in the country illegally, taking credit for once having a perpetrator “thrown out of the country.”
Withrow said he facilitated the deportation of a burglary suspect accused of fatally stabbing a K9 officer named Duke who had been sent in to apprehend him in the town of Banta in February 2023.
“We’re going to go after bad people. And the person, the illegal, the undocumented person that was here that stabbed Duke to death … we got him thrown out of the country,” Withrow said. “I will go after people who are victimizing and hurting our citizens.”
Withrow’s approach is in stark contrast to that of Stockton police, which on Monday — Inauguration Day — said it “took pride” in not enforcing immigration laws.
“We believe doing so would undermine the trust and safety we have worked hard to build within our community,” police officials said in a statement shared on social media.
The post provoked more than 1,000 comments, with many either excoriating or alternately praising the department and the city. The department has since offered an updated statement, saying it continues to “investigate federal and state criminal violations in coordination with our federal partners.”
CalMatters found 13 California sheriffs who say their policy will be to comply with a “sanctuary” law that limits law enforcement inquiries about a person’s immigration status. Four department’s said they interpret state law as allowing them to work with federal immigration officers.
Withrow’s office did not reply to the survey, which was last updated Monday, although he had already made his videotaped remarks public at that point.