Note: "Both victims were unable to fight back since they didn't have
their weapons anymore. "
Note: Fox news on govt. weapons in Mexico
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/28/americas-war-arming-mexican-
cartels/
Note: we keep hearing how secure the Yuma sector is. Really?
Civilian MCAS employees saluted for preventing drug smuggling
April 26, 2011 4:25 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER
Three civilian employees at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma were
honored by the Yuma Sector Border Patrol on Tuesday for their role in
preventing a drug smuggling.
The honors stem from a smuggling attempt earlier this month on the
Barry M. Goldwater Range involving about 1,000 pounds of marijuana.
Cesar Escajeda, special operations supervisor with the Yuma Station,
recognized alarm monitors Christopher Carbajal, Staci Mitchell and
Luey Rocque during a brief ceremony held at the air station's Provost
Marshal's Office.
Escajeda presented each with a certificate of appreciation and an
agency coin for their efforts and praised them for their dedication
to duty.
"The assistance you rendered to the Yuma Border Patrol is to be
applauded and did not go without notice," Escajeda said as he read
from one of the certificates. "Your dedication to your duties has
reflected well on both yourself and the Marine Corps Air Station and
has allowed both entities to continue to enjoy a partnership."
Escajeda went on to say the Border Patrol simply doesn't have as many
agents patrolling that part of the border as it would like. He
stressed that without the air station's assistance in monitoring the
range, agents wouldn't have as much control of area as they do.
"It really does make a difference in what we do out there. We thank
you."
On April 7, Carbajal, Mitchell and Rocque were on duty at the air
station's alarm control center at about 4:30 a.m. when they detected
a vehicle out on the Goldwater range traveling north from the
international border.
"It was unusual because of the area where we detected it," Mitchell
said. "We knew it was a vehicle, but we didn't know what type."
Carbajal added, "We don't see a lot of activity out there."
Thinking it may be a Border Patrol vehicle, they contacted the Yuma
Sector, which then sent agents to area to intercept the vehicle.
However, the vehicle turned around before agents got there, driving
back toward the border.
Once at the border, the vehicle's two occupants fled back to Mexico.
Agents seized the vehicle, which contained 1,000 pounds of marijuana
with an estimated street value of $800,000.
Rocque said they knew before their shift was over that they had
helped prevent a drug-smuggling attempt, but it wasn't until the
following day that they found out how much marijuana was in the vehicle.
"It was awesome. We were kind of excited about it," Rocque said. "We
knew Border Patrol had apprehended the vehicle, but we didn't know
how much was in it."
Mitchell has been an alarm monitor at the air station for 10 months,
Carbajal for seven months and Rocque for four months.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
Note: Good, now what about Mexican citizens safety? Ref: AZMEX
UPDATE 27-4-11
Juárez traffic officers get weapons back for their safety
By Marisela Ortega / EL PASO TIMES
Posted: 04/28/2011 12:07:29 PM MDT
Officers from the Department of Traffic of Juárez will be able to
carry weapons for their safety as a result of deadly attacks carried
out by gunmen against two officers Tuesday afternoon, Juárez
officials said.
"In light of those events, we are making changes in Traffic Unit
policies in the matter," Juárez Mayor Héctor Murguía said in a
statement. "It was a cowardly and sneaky action committed against
both officers."
Murguía added that local police officers will escort traffic officers
in order to prevent another deadly attack.
Two Juárez traffic officers were shot to death Tuesday afternoon
while patrolling the streets. Both were unarmed.
"They (the killers) are trying to scare us away," Murguía said. "But
we are not going to give in."
Javier García Herrera, 28, was gunned down Tuesday while riding his
motorcycle on Panamerican Highway, officials said.
An hour later, another officer, Héctor Rodríguez Trevizo, 38, was
shot to death while driving in his police unit on Juan Gabriel Avenue
and Barranco Azul Street.
Juárez authorities took away the weapons carried out by traffic
officers during the tenure of then-Juárez Mayor José Reyes Ferriz, a
local official said who doesn't want to be named because he is not
authorized to comment in the matter.
"Back then, they decided to remove those weapons from the officers,"
the official said. "The gunmen used to attack the traffic officers to
steal their weapons."
Both victims were unable to fight back since they didn't have their
weapons anymore.
For safety reasons, Murguía declined to disclose when the officers
will be armed again nor would comment about the safety steps
implemented to protect law enforcement officers.
Both killed officers were buried with honors, Murguía said.
Marisela Ortega may be reached at mortega@elpasotimes.com; 542-6077.
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