BY LINDA BENTLEY | SEPTEMBER 22, 2010
Arizona Sheriff Larry Dever elected Southwest Border Sheriff’s Coalition Chairman
‘Cochise County Sheriff takes lead in protecting nation’s borders’
ALBUQUEQUE, N.M. – Arizona Sheriff Larry Dever of Cochise County was elected chairman of the Southwest Border Sheriff’s Coalition which includes sheriffs from 26 counties along the United States/Mexico border.
Formed in January of 2007 Sheriff officials from counties along the United States/Mexico border in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California met in El Paso, Texas and formed a coalition to combat border crime and violence. Hosted by the Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition, those at the meeting formed the Southwest Border Sheriff’s Coalition that would allow each of them to bring together their members of their states to act as one voice and better combat crime along the border.
“The coalition of sheriffs across our southern border was formed to get out the word that we need help, and we need it now,” said Sheriff Dever. “Since the federal government has been laying down on the job of protecting us, we are doing our best to make up for their poor efforts.
“One of the main goals of the coalition was to improve coordination, communication, and response between local, state, and federal agencies, and I pledge to do that as chairman.”
When forming the coalition, the Sheriffs acknowledged their efforts would only be a temporary fix until the federal government steps in and devotes strong resources to control not only illegal immigration but border violence. In a 2006 study conducted by the Institute for Policy and Economic Development at the University of Texas at El Paso, it was stated: “If the counties along the Southwest’s border made up the 51st state, it would rank first in federal crimes.”
“I’m proud to work alongside fellow sheriffs and law enforcement officers to crack down on crime at the border, and now lead the effort in fighting the federal government to get the job done,” said Dever.
Sheriff Dever and Paul Babeu of Pinal County have established www.bordersheriffs.com to help combat lawsuits brought by the ACLU and the Justice Department against the Sheriffs and explore opportunities to affirmatively bring action against the Federal Government.
BorderSheriffs.com was formed to help provide Arizona sheriffs such as Sheriff Dever a sufficient legal defense to take on the Obama Administration, the ACLU and others opposing a secure border and enforcement of SB1070.
