Thread: Border Conference Focuses on Spillover Violence

Border Conference Focuses on Spillover Violence
By Kai Porter - Reporter
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 5:42pm

Experts say there's no question about it.

The drug violence raging in Juarez has spilled across the U.S./Mexico border into El Paso.


The question now becomes how to deal with the spillover.


That was one of the main topics of a two day border conference in El Paso called "Border School."


The event brings together law enforcement leaders from border communities around Texas to talk about the issues effecting their communities.


"People are afraid of kidnappings, extortion and carjackings," said Sigi Gonzalez, Sheriff of Zapata County, located between Laredo and McAllen.


Sheriff Gonzalez is a guest speaker at the "Border School" and says there is no doubt that drug violence has spilled into El Paso and other border cities.


He cites an incident last summer when an El Paso man was kidnapped out his Horizon City home. His mutilated body was found a week later in Juarez.


Sheriff Gonzalez says El Paso law enforcement agencies should not be downplaying these kind of incidents.


"It's a matter of admitting you have a problem. Before you can have a cure you have to admit there is a problem," said Gonzalez.


He says the solution lies in more money and manpower to keep the spillover at a minimum.


"You handle that by being more proactive and having more patrols out there.We've have some funding from the state. We've been able to reduce crime tremendously with that funding."

www.ktsm.com

Ironically, on April 8, we had this story:
Customs Chief Sees No 'Spillover' Violence
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-194274-spillover.html

and I am sure that another article followed close behind this with an almost identical title quoting an elected official along our southern border; however, I cannot locate it.