State police increase presence at Mexican border

The Associated Press
Article Launched: 02/29/2008 10:35:31 AM MST


SANTA FE—The New Mexico State Police has beefed up the number of officers along the state's border with Mexico because of a recent spike in violence.
The Las Cruces and Deming state police offices specifically assign officers to work on crimes along the border. However, the Department of Public Safety, which oversees the state police, augmented those patrols with extra officers starting at midweek, said Peter Olson, a spokesman for DPS.

He said the extra officers would remain through the weekend, then officials would evaluate the need. Earlier in the week, a state police helicopter also was used along the border, he said.

More officers were sent south because of an increase in violence and illegal activity such as human and drug smuggling, "and the other crimes that happen to people who live along the border—breaking and entering, damage to their property, those kinds of things," Olson said.


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