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Anchorage cop charged as illegal immigrantAn officer of the Anchorage Police Department has been working the city's streets using a false identity for nearly six years, according to federal prosecutors, who made the announcement Friday afternoon. Rafael Mora-Lopez, 47, was arrested on passport fraud charges this week. Mora-Lopez, a Mexican national, was using the name "Rafael Espinoza" and had been since beginning with APD back in 2005, according to U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler. Mora-Lopez pleaded not guilty to the charges. When asked to state his name during an arraignment hearing today, Mora-Lopez said his last name was Lopez. During the hearing, Tom Bradley, an assistant U.S. prosecutor, said that Mora-Lopez was not a danger to the community and that although he posed some flight risk, he thought that conditions put on his release pending trial would minimize those risks. Mora-Lopez will be released on a $50,000 bond. The trial is scheduled for June 27. Mora-Lopez had lived in Anchorage since the 1980s. He has a wife and at least one child. He was also very popular among Anchorage police, according to Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew, who said that officers were "devastated" because he was such a good, hard working officer. The stolen identity was not discovered during police department background checks. In fact, it was the State Department that discovered Mora-Lopez was using the false identity when he either applied or reapplied for a passport. Mora-Lopez is not a U.S. citizen, but was rather a citizen of Mexico, according to the feds. "He was a sterling, popular officer--a really good officer," Mew said. "But he did lie himself into a job. It has been a bitter pill (for the department) to swallow. He was a popular guy. (Officers) felt betrayed but still, many are going to miss him." Two officials with Homeland Security and two others with the State Department who were present at the press conference where the arrest was announced couldn’t name another case in the country where a cop was accused of stealing someone's identity. Contact Amanda Coyne at amanda(at)alaskadispatch.com I find it troubleing that APD considers a man who sneaked into the United States under the viel of darkness, stole an identity, and swore on his honor to protect and defend, a "Sterling" and "popular" officer. It goes to show what our system of justice has turned into. One more time.... he is a illegal ailien and the Anchorage Police Department missed it when they completed a alleged background investigation on him? Not only is his honesty and integrity in question but the departments proceedures are most definatly flawed. APD needs to have another look at all of the officers currently on the force and see what else they can turn up if they do real investigations! |
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