C.B.P. News Release

Yuma Sector Hosts International Gang Awareness Training Conference
40 U.S. Agencies, 2 Mexican Agencies; 300 Law Enforcement Officers in Attendance

(Monday, November 24, 2008)

Yuma, Ariz. – The Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector recently hosted an unprecedented multi-agency gang awareness training conference November 18-19.

Effectively uniting 40 different local, tribal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and two Mexican agencies, more than 300 law enforcement officers attended the Yuma Sector’s two-day gang awareness conference in Yuma, Ariz.

The conference featured senior gang experts from the Yuma Border Patrol Sector, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Inglewood Police Department, Maricopa Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Setting the proactive tone of the conference, opening day remarks were delivered by Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent Paul Beeson, FBI Senior Supervisor Resident Agent Allen Grimes, Cocopah Police Chief James Spurgeon, and Cocopah Tribal Chairwoman Sherry Cordova.

“By networking together, we can significantly disrupt or minimize illegal activity that is being spread throughout Mexico and the U.S. by gang members,â€