Pubdate: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2009 El Paso Times Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/formnewsroom Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829 BORDER PROBLEM: CORRUPTION CASES AMONG OFFICERS RISE Revelations about a rising number of corruption cases in federal law-enforcement agencies don't exactly raise confidence about the border violence and smuggling. U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, said, "As the federal government has increased the number of Border Patrol agents on the ground, drug cartels are having greater difficulty smuggling drugs across the border and have had to resort to other tactics, such as bribery and infiltration." It's bothersome, but not really surprising. Cartels have a lot of money to throw around and that can be awfully tempting to a lot of people who won't see that kind of money in a lifetime. Another powerful incentive to cause a law officer to "turn" is the threat of violence against the officer, family members or relatives. The criminal element along the border has a lot of weapons at its command and won't hesitate to use any of them. One of the best ways to keep corruption under control is the thorough investigation of cases and the swift prosecution and severe punishment of those who break the law. Between Oct. 1, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2009, the Inspector General's Office of the Department of Homeland Security opened 72 criminal cases alleging corruption among personnel in its agencies. It's a serious problem and appears to be growing. We must be able to trust in the integrity and efficiency of our border law-enforcement personnel, particularly because it appears that border problems, including violence and smuggling, are going to get a lot worse before they get better. The feds must keep the upper hand in corruption problems. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D