TX - Sheriffs get border crime overview

Posted: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 5:14 pm

EL PASO, Texas — Talbot Sheriff Dallas Pope and other sheriffs from across the country recently participated in a border summit seminar that provided an overview of Mexican cartels and criminal immigrant security issues, according to a news release from the sheriff.

The organizational aspects of criminal gangs, human trafficking and drug-related violence were part of the presentation, as well as crime from Mexico into the United States. The summit focused on narcoterrorism issues and related violence, with presentations on gangs like MS-13 and the Surenos, and La Eme (Mexican mafia), according to the release.

The seminar took place near the Mexican border town of Ciudad Juarez. In Juarez between 2007 and 2011 more than 9,000 people were killed, with the peak coming in 2010, when Juarez saw a record 3,116 homicides, or about eight murders per day, according to the release.

Sheriffs attending the summit were hosted by Sheriff Arvin West of Hudspeth County in Texas, who shares a county border of 98 miles with Mexico, of which 4 miles have a 16-foot border fence. In the Mexican town of Praxedis G. Guerrero which abuts Hudspeth County, former Police Chief Manuel Castro was tortured, killed, and beheaded in 2009.

In addition to cross-border crime issues, the role of policing this open border falls to the U.S. Border Patrol and the 14 deputies of the Hudspeth County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriffs attending the seminar were also provided an overview of operational functions of the Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Pope currently serves on the National Sheriff’s Association Training and Education Committee.

http://www.stardem.com/news/local_ne...c88f938fb.html