Sen. Hutchison gets $4.85 million for border law enforcement

Posted: Dec 10, 2009 02:37 PM

Updated: Dec 10, 2009 02:41 PM

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has secured $4.85 million in funding to be used by border sheriffs to stop drug and human trafficking.

The money is coming from the fiscal year 2010 Omnibus Appropriations bill. It will help border sheriffs pay for overtime, hire additional deputies, and purchase equipment. This project supports Operation Linebacker, an initiative of the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition.

"Our law enforcement personnel along the border are regularly under assault, and drug and human traffickers continue to threaten the safety of our communities," Hutchison said in a news release. "Sheriffs patrolling the border need additional reinforcements to protect the border adequately and to ensure violent crime doesn't continue to spill over into our state. That's why this funding to the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition is so critical. Not only will it increase the number of deputies patrolling the border, but it will enable sheriffs and deputies to keep watch for longer and with better equipment."

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=11658131