Extradition Accord at Last
A local family got an early Christmas gift with the announcement that Mexico has lifted its ban on extraditing suspects who might face life in prison without parole.
The wife and parents of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy David March, killed April 29, 2002, greeted the decision with joy and relief.
March's suspected killer, Armando "Chato" Garcia, fled to Mexico hours after he left the Temple Station deputy mortally wounded on a street in unincorporated Irwindale.
The 33-year-old law enforcement officer had no way of knowing the man behind the wheel of the black Nissan Maxima had vowed to kill any police officer who got in his way. To March, it was a routine traffic stop.
If the suspected gunman was no stranger to police, having been arrested several times and wanted in connection with two other killings, March knew nothing of the Mexican national who authorities had deported four times.
Garcia allegedly shot March in the side of the chest where his bullet-proof vest was open and then fired, execution-style, into his head. The gunman left the seven-year sheriff's veteran bleeding in the street. A passing motorist alerted the Sheriff's Department by activating an emergency call button in March's patrol car. But even this quick and courageous action was too late to save the life of a young man who had everything to live for.
Those of us in the San Gabriel Valley who valued Deputy March as we do all our law enforcement personnel have long called for Garcia's return to face justice in the United States along with the reported 3,000 fugitives nationwide who have found safe refuge in Mexico. According to Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, 800 of those are from our region.
We're convinced the persistence of Reps. David Dreier and Adam Schiff was instrumental in Mexico's unexpected but welcome retreat from their stringent extradition rules.
While Mexico's Supreme Court set aside its 2001 decision against deporting those who face life in prison in a surprise ruling last week, it's not likely justices will go back on their refusal to turn over suspects who face the death penalty.
California law calls for life without parole for those who murder a peace officer, although the death penalty has been sought in some cases. March's family members, including wife Teri, have said they would be satisfied to see Garcia receive life if convicted.
Cooley has said Garcia is high on the list of those he would like returned to stand trial. Certainly life imprisonment without possibility of parole is preferable to allowing Garcia and other killers to remain free in Mexico.
Clearly Mexico's officials have listened to the reasoned arguments of Dreier, who came before them to speak about the importance of bringing those who kill law enforcement officers to justice. While the lives of police officers are no more precious than those of any American, their murder with impunity tears at the fabric of social order in this nation of laws. Harboring these murderers also sends a deprecating message to Mexican law enforcement as well.
Clearly Mexico's highest court has taken a firm stand against such lawlessness and, we believe, boldly declared to murderers and perpetrators of other heinous crimes: Stay away, you are no longer welcome to prowl our streets and endanger our citizens.
This courageous decision signals a new era in Mexican-American relations, one we hope results in the quick return of Garcia and some 20 others suspected of murdering or injuring U.S. law enforcement officers.
