Print
Comment
Rate
Dever questions BP line patrol strategy
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever directed his attention to the Border Patrol last week.
During an interview with KFI AM 640 on Aug. 18, Dever said it has come to his attention that Border Patrol agents are avoiding certain areas along the Southern Arizona border to avoid conflict.
"Agents have told me - this isn't second hand - that there are places where they don't work right along the border because it's too dangerous," Dever said. "There is concern at the management level, at a certain level, that it's too dangerous right there on the fence."
Dever said it is his understanding that management is concerned about Border Patrol agents getting into a fight with illegal immigrants and smugglers and fear such a confrontation could spark an "international incident."
Dever stressed that not all management is taking this approach, but some are.
If this is the case, Border Patrol agents are basically being told, "not to do their jobs," Dever said.
"I've been hearing this anecdotally for some time, but now I have Border Patrol agents and their families telling me that this is the case," he added.
In a written statement to Capitol Media Services, last week, the U.S. Border Patrol denied Dever's allegations.
Dever stressed that not all border agents are avoiding dangerous areas, noting many put their lives on the line every day to do the job.
Border Patrol is important because law enforcement calls them for cases involving illegal immigrants, and for years, local agencies such as the Sheriff's Department must fill in the gap left by the federal government.
Dever brought up federal grant monies approved for the sheriff's department to pay deputies overtime in assisting enforce border policy. The federally funded program is known as Operation Stoneguard.
Dever also brought up the debate over SB 1070 during the radio address.
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state of Arizona to strike down the new law aimed at enforcing immigration laws, claiming SB 1070 should not be valid because it is the federal government's responsibility.
"In our case, the federal government is giving us grant money to help enforce immigration laws through Stoneguard, but at the same time, they are suing the state, telling us not to," Dever said.
Dever continues to fight for increased border security on the national stage, appearing with Geraldo Rivera and on the Laura Ingram radio show.
In a recent interview with the San Pedro Valley News-Sun, Dever said the sheriff's department really started seeing an increase in calls relating to illegal immigrants around 1998.
"It was at that time that we just started getting hammered," he said. "While border security is stressed to be a federal responsibility, their failure to act puts the responsibility on us."
As the border takes center stage, Dever said every call, every officer called out to deal with illegal immigration takes away time and resources from domestic violence, drugs and even traffic issues facing Cochise County.
"If the federal government would actually come in and take responsibility, then we could tackle some of these other issues," he said.
Dever said calls reporting dead bodies in the desert, drugs, home invasions and break ins related to illegal immigration will continue to increase and bog down law enforcement until something is done to secure the border.
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever directed his attention to the Border Patrol last week.
During an interview with KFI AM 640 on Aug. 18, Dever said it has come to his attention that Border Patrol agents are avoiding certain areas along the Southern Arizona border to avoid conflict.
"Agents have told me - this isn't second hand - that there are places where they don't work right along the border because it's too dangerous," Dever said. "There is concern at the management level, at a certain level, that it's too dangerous right there on the fence."
Dever said it is his understanding that management is concerned about Border Patrol agents getting into a fight with illegal immigrants and smugglers and fear such a confrontation could spark an "international incident."
Dever stressed that not all management is taking this approach, but some are.
If this is the case, Border Patrol agents are basically being told, "not to do their jobs," Dever said.
"I've been hearing this anecdotally for some time, but now I have Border Patrol agents and their families telling me that this is the case," he added.
In a written statement to Capitol Media Services, last week, the U.S. Border Patrol denied Dever's allegations.
Dever stressed that not all border agents are avoiding dangerous areas, noting many put their lives on the line every day to do the job.
Border Patrol is important because law enforcement calls them for cases involving illegal immigrants, and for years, local agencies such as the Sheriff's Department must fill in the gap left by the federal government.
Dever brought up federal grant monies approved for the sheriff's department to pay deputies overtime in assisting enforce border policy. The federally funded program is known as Operation Stoneguard.
Dever also brought up the debate over SB 1070 during the radio address.
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state of Arizona to strike down the new law aimed at enforcing immigration laws, claiming SB 1070 should not be valid because it is the federal government's responsibility.
"In our case, the federal government is giving us grant money to help enforce immigration laws through Stoneguard, but at the same time, they are suing the state, telling us not to," Dever said.
Dever continues to fight for increased border security on the national stage, appearing with Geraldo Rivera and on the Laura Ingram radio show.
In a recent interview with the San Pedro Valley News-Sun, Dever said the sheriff's department really started seeing an increase in calls relating to illegal immigrants around 1998.
"It was at that time that we just started getting hammered," he said. "While border security is stressed to be a federal responsibility, their failure to act puts the responsibility on us."
As the border takes center stage, Dever said every call, every officer called out to deal with illegal immigration takes away time and resources from domestic violence, drugs and even traffic issues facing Cochise County.
"If the federal government would actually come in and take responsibility, then we could tackle some of these other issues," he said.
Dever said calls reporting dead bodies in the desert, drugs, home invasions and break ins related to illegal immigration will continue to increase and bog down law enforcement until something is done to secure the border.
 |
 |
|
| Partners Stacy Martin, Sierra Slew fare well at nationals | Voters to decide on four council seats in spring election |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
wondering wrote on Aug 25, 2010 9:24 AM:
" Deaver getting himself in the news again. (what’s new) This time he come out against the Border Patrol. This will do him harm. The Border Patrol is the main back up the sheriff has. Will Border Patrol now be reluctant to help his staff in the future. With all the media attention Deaver strives for, one has to ask what office will her be running for next? "
mpjatvtcdotnet wrote on Aug 24, 2010 11:00 PM: