Thread: TX-Sheriff: Firearms missing

Sheriff: Firearms missing

By ZACH LINDSEY
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Published: Friday, June 5, 2009 3:22 AM CDT

Guns, radios and computers are just some of the things that have been identified as missing from the Webb County Sheriff's Department.

A list of pending items compiled in May states that six firearms are missing.

One of those firearms is a Colt 9mm submachine gun, a weapon typically equipped with a 32-round magazine and used by SWAT teams and counter-terrorism units.

Two of the 32-round magazines for the weapon are also missing.

There are also five handguns, including two automatic pistols, on the list.

Tactical gear, such as two ballistic vests, is also missing.

Some other interesting missing items include two mahogany display cases, seven digital cameras, a DVD player, portable radios, five orange medical call-in bags and what is referred to on the list as an "educational CD."

Sheriff Martin Cuellar's office has been taking an inventory of all of the department's equipment.

No inventory

According to Cuellar, the reason for the delay on noticing the missing items was that there was no formal inventory under former Sheriff Rick Flores' administration.

Flores could not be reached for comment Thursday evening.

"We started an inventory from day one," Cuellar said.

"From day one I ordered an inventory so we can have a master list of all the items that the Webb County Sheriff's Office has, and who these items are assigned, starting from guns all the way to computers."

The inventory was conducted by counting the number of cars, weapons and equipment, and noting to whom that equipment was assigned.

Then, the Sheriff's Department went to the County Auditor's office and reviewed equipment lists, such as how many guns had been purchased from 2005 onward, including weapons purchased by the federal government, according to Cuellar.

"We were never submitted any type of list," Cuellar said.

"We had to look and see what we had."

The missing equipment situation became complicated even further Thursday when a former deputy came into the sheriff's office and gave them a list of missing weapons that he obtained while working there, according to Cuellar.

"Now, from that list, we're going to compare it to the list that we have," Cuellar said.

Cuellar did not want to speculate on whether more guns could be missing.

Because of the missing equipment, the Sheriff's Department is under pressure by the Department of Homeland Security, and risks losing the Stone Garden Grant, which provides money for equipment purchases.

Cuellar attributed some of the pressure being placed upon his department to the actions of Flores.

"There were some things that weren't done, and we have to pay for it," Cuellar said.

At the same time, Cuellar said he could understand the actions being taken by Homeland Security.

The Sheriff's Department has filed a formal incident report with the Laredo Police Department.

Because of the county's budget crunch, Cuellar said he also began reviewing things like who can drive county vehicles and who will receive gas reimbursements.

"We have saved a lot of money because we had cut down on people that were taking cars home," Cuellar said.

Although Webb County officials did not comment specifically about the missing equipment, Commissioner Sergio "Keko" Martinez implied the issue would most likely be brought before the Commissioners Court.

"Right now I can't say anything until everything is brought to us," Martinez said.

(Zach Lindsey may be reached at 728-2538 or zach@lmtonline.com)

http://www.lmtonline.com/articles/2009/ ... 127785.txt

Congressman Henry Cuellar's brother:::

Sheriff Martin Cuellar's office has been taking an inventory of all of the department's equipment.

Well, there is corruption in other border sheriff's departments. Sounds like it's time to clean house from the top down.

Line them all up for a polygraph because it sure sounds like someone is supplying the cartels with weapons.

This pisses me off. When are we going to wake up to the corrupt politicians and border area lawmen? Don't get me wrong, not all of them are bad apples, but there are enough to endanger us all. Frankly, all it takes is one taking a bribe(the Mexican legal system) and letting a drity bomb go by.

This is exactly why we need the National Guard on the border to keep the local Mexico friendly politicos under control. It's called the rear guard. They keep the front honest and fighting.

Dixie

Border/corruption, simply it's been that way in my lifetime and I expect it
will remain so.