Judging Freedom Sheriff David Hathaway : Power Without Accountability — ICE Under Scrutiny
Jan 26, 2026
Sheriff David Hathaway, Santa Cruz County lawman with DEA supervisory experience, speaks on federal influence over local policing. He describes federal control of crime scenes and withheld evidence. He details overwhelming federal presence near the border and refused deputizations. He discusses surveillance infrastructure locals cannot access and accountability barriers like qualified immunity.
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Feds Investigate But Cannot Prosecute State Crimes
- When a federal officer shoots someone the feds cordon off the scene and local law enforcement is often excluded from investigation.
- Federal investigatory offices lack the charter to prosecute state crimes like homicide, so cases commonly die without state charges.
Insist On Homicide-Trained Investigators
- Demand homicide-trained investigators when a shooting occurs so biological and forensic evidence is properly processed.
- Present thorough, unbiased findings to the local prosecutor to enable appropriate criminal review.
Qualified Immunity Lowers Accountability
- Courts apply qualified immunity and allow officers to rely on coworkers' statements, lowering accountability in split-second shootings.
- The legal standard for police often differs from that for private individuals who commit similar acts.