DPS Releases Report on Border Violence

Reported by: Joe Augustine
Email: jaugustine@krgv.com
Last Update: 10/14 7:18 pm

A detailed report discussing border violence has been released. It documents the spillover violence affecting our border. These stats come from the Department of Public Safety. This is the first time we've seen this kind of detailed evidence.

The stats come from both sides of our border. The DPS reportedly tracked more than 200 decapitations in Mexico since the beginning of 2009. There were 64 decapitations in the first six months of this year alone.

Less gruesome but just as serious crimes are documented on U.S. soil. CHANNEL 5 NEWS has reported many instances right here in the valley. DPS says bullets have crossed from Mexico into the United States at least eight times since 2009. CHANNEL 5 NEWS found a neighborhood in 2010 peppered with fire from across the river. Neighborhoods on the border are high risk.

Working on the border has put dozens more in jeopardy. More than 60 law enforcement officers have been shot at in the last two and a half years. Hidalgo County water employees working on the river started carrying guns after taking fire from the border last July.

Not everyone affected by the border violence is innocent. There have been at least 120 drug-related or alien-related kidnappings since 2004. The most recent kidnapping in the Valley happened in July. A 17-year-old suspected to be helping move a drug load disappeared.

The DPS stats show innovation from bad guys operating on this side of the border. Smugglers have used spikes to disable more than 75 U.S. patrol vehicles.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/DP ... GWi6g.cspx