Mayor, Local Officials Meet with Gov. Perry
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Oct 4, 2009, 0 Comments
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas, Council Member Gene Belmares, District VI, City Manager Carlos Villarreal, and Chief of Police Carlos Maldonado, along with other leaders in the community met with Texas Governor Rick Perry immediately after speaking at today’s CLEAT luncheon. According to Salinas, the meeting was “very productive” as Perry understands how important and critical the border is to the state of Texas. Topics on the meeting’s agenda included issues related to border security: specifically, a future city crime lab and a separate fusion center, as well as issues related to border violence. Additionally, border health security issues were touched upon.
Regarding border security, Perry hopes to see more boots on the ground to end the threat of terrorism and drug cartels. He also hopes to get more technical resources and other assistance for checking southbound traffic to help intercept firearms, money and vehicles.
Local officials also stressed the importance of creating a fusion center, which is a centralized location for gathering and sharing critical intelligence by various local law enforcement agencies can help spur even more cooperation here on the border. Currently, there are five such facilities in Texas – in north, central, east and west Texas. There are none in South Texas. Perry was very receptive to this issue, as well as a city crime lab.
Finally, Perry listened to concerns to border health security issues; specifically, the threat of N1N1 and other such future pandemics that the border may be more susceptible to. He pledged continuous support to help find more state and other grants for such work.
“This was a wonderful opportunity to meet with Governor Perry and discuss issues that affect not only Laredo, but impact the state,” stated Salinas. He also went on to commend the Laredo Police Officers Association for not only organization such a wonderful conference, which brought in over 500 officers to Laredo, but also, for bringing in, along with CLEAT, Governor Perry to address these issues.
