This is a natural progression of the present day unsavory practice of the police using informants in the drug war, many of whom are active criminals themselves.
I don't know. I don't like illegals either, but if it meant stopping the sniper from murdering more citizens, it might be the lesser of two evils. I am glad that I don't have to hold my nose and make this decision.
BTW, Hawkeye, I don't think that Moose has any authority to offer "amnesty" to illegals, which is a completely federal function that generally means giving them permanent residence (which I generally oppose). I think what he meant to say was that he wouldn't call the INS on them, unlike the dudes busted the other day. The illegals would still remain illegals. Many people will be surprised at how commonplace this practice is. Many PDs will turn a blind eye to illegals if they are useful witnesses to solving violent crimes.