Officer's death prompts call for tougher policies

A suspected illegal immigrant was held without bond Monday after being accused of causing a crash that killed a Phoenix police officer.

Salvador Vivas-Diaz, 50, made an initial court appearance before Court Commissioner Jerry Bernstein, who said he had probable cause to believe Vivas-Diaz is in the United States illegally and that he caused the wreck that killed Officer Shane Figueroa in the early morning hours of Saturday.

Police said Figueroa was responding to a shots fired call, near 19th Avenue and Roeser Road when Vivas-Diaz crashed into his patrol car. Investigators said Vivas-Diaz apparently had been drinking. He was held for investigation of manslaughter and other charges.

"In regard to the manslaughter charge, the forgery charge and the aggravated assault, I find the proof evident or presumption great that you committed these offenses and, under Arizona law, you must be held without bond," Bernstein told Vivas-Diaz.

Court documents said Vivas-Diaz had been deported previously and that he had used different names.

Meanwhile, the head of the Phoenix police union called for tougher measures to deal with illegal immigrants.

Mark Spencer of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, which represents about 2,500 officers, said it is time for the Police Department to adopt a zero tolerance policy toward illegal immigrants, similar to that of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Phoenix Police toughened their policy earlier this year by giving officers authority to call federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents when they stop someone suspected of being in the country illegally.

"As we look at what's going on in the Valley, PLEA appreciates the zero tolerance strategy utilitized by the deputies and the posse of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office," Spencer said after Figueroa's death.

A small group of protesters gathered outside Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon's house Sunday night, accusing the mayor of protecting illegal immigrants. The mayor's spokesman told CBS-5 that the federal government and the illegal immigrant are to blame for Figueroa's death, not the mayor.

Spencer said, "There are some who believe that illegal aliens are just bus boys or they're just landscapers or they're just janitors, but in reality they are criminals."

He added, "I think what clearly is a deterrence is when law enforcement agencies like the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office engage in pro-active immigration and zero tolerance programs... We can't even get beyond a year that an illegal alien attacks, murders or seriously injuries a Phoenix police officer. We're tired of it."

Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris said the impact of Figueroa's death extends well beyond Phoenix.

"This is a tragedy not only for the Phoenix Police Department, but it also is involved wtih other departments within our Valley," Harris said.

Harris said his department has lost four officers in the past month, three to personal illness and now Figueroa.

Figueroa served les than three years as a Phoenix police officer. He leaves behind a wife and three-month-old daughter.

Harris and the mayor held a news conference Saturday at Desert Horizon Precinct. Gordon did not speak at the conference.

Listen to audio of Sergeant Andy Hill and Chief Jack Harris at the press conference.