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Yuma-area law enforcement agencies to get federal funds
BY NICOLE E. SQUIBBS, SUN STAFF WRITER
Oct 6, 2006



Gov. Janet Napolitano announced this week that Arizona will be getting more funding for a federal program that reimburses local law enforcement agencies for helping to increase patrols along the border.

In the past, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Operation Stonegarden program reimbursed state and local law enforcement agencies only for overtime costs for border patrol. DHS is now agreeing to also pay for security and surveillance equipment such as video cameras, ground radar, infrared detection devices and improved radio communications systems.

Yuma County Sheriff's Office Capt. Eben Bratcher said if the equipment is handheld or portable, his officers might be able to use infrared detection devices and video cameras. He said they could definitely use better radio communication systems.

Julie Mason, spokeswoman for Arizona Department of Homeland Security, told The Sun she believes the equipment would be a mix of portable and stationary devices, but that is still being evaluated.

Bratcher said his office spends "a significant amount of money" out of its own budget to send officers on overtime border patrol. He said the program does not take into account the money his office must spend for fuel, tires and vehicle maintenance.

He said officers volunteer their off-duty time, and his department has received about $30,000 from Operation Stonegarden to pay them for border patrol.

Bratcher said border operations place a "significant impact on daily operations."

"The amount of crimes committed by illegal border crossers is huge," he said.

"Every time that happens, it takes a deputy away from patrolling your
neighborhood or delays him in responding to your burglary."

His officers' strategy is to use Operation Stonegarden to send supplemental people to areas known for border-crossing related crimes such as trespassing and littering.

The governor was also able to persuade DHS to drop a proposed requirement that law enforcement agencies match 25 percent of federal dollars for the program, placing a large financial burden on Yuma County and other border law enforcement agencies.

"State and local law enforcement agencies in Arizona will now have more options in their efforts to improve security along the border," Napolitano stated in a release.