Pearce Says Gordon Wrong to Blame Feds for Erfle's Death

State lawmaker Russell Pearce says Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon is wrong to blame the federal government for Officer Nick Erfle's death at the hands of an illegal immigrant.

"That blame also belongs at the local level. We have an obligation to protect our citizens and enforce our laws, our citizens have a constitutional right to expect our laws to be enforce," says Pearce.

He is critical of a Phoenix policy that bans police from arresting illegals when their only offense is violating federal immigration laws.

Pearce says Phoenix is sanctuary city. "To ignore the obvious and not enforce the laws and to wait until after the commit a serious felony, til after the kill one of our citizens or our police officers to enforce laws is absolutely wrong and immoral."

"We have the right to ask and we have the right to act. These sanctuary policies are illegal and immoral and they ought to be removed to let police officers do their job."

Pearce also has harsh words for Scottsdale police, who arrested and released the alleged cop killer Eric Martinez after he'd been deported and re-entered the country.