LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Brenda Medina,

Austin, TX—  Laredo police officers are securing the border; that was the message that the Laredo delegation carried to the capitol  in a very focused meeting with the Texas Department of Public Safety and state elected officials.

Throughout the past couple of years the Laredo Police Department has taken a number of different approaches to combat transnational crime in the community. Due to recent funding provided to the City of Laredo from the State of Texas for south bound interdiction, officers have been able to catch an increased number of perpetrators and recover stolen vehicles. Since its inception in 2010, the number of cases have dropped from around 1,700 then to 380 stolen vehicles last year in Laredo. “Grant funding specific to homeland and border security enhances the officers ability to safeguard the local, state, and national safety of our citizens,” said Laredo Police Department Interim Chief, Gilberto Navarro. The topic carried over to a meeting the Laredo delegation had with Senator Craig Estes (R- Wichita Falls) who serves as a chairman for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Homeland Security. Senator Estes expressed his support for Laredo and will join with Senator Judith Zaffirini to maintain this program funding to continue to combat border crime. An invitation was extended to Chairman Estes to visit the community firsthand and he immediately accepted, making plans to travel to Laredo soon .

On the heels of the State of the State Address, Mayor Raul G. Salinas, City Manager Carlos Villarreal, and Interim Police Chief Gilberto Navarro along with other City officials met with Department of Public Safety(TXDPS) Commission Chair Cindy Leon and TXDPS Director, Steve McCraw, hosted by Representative Richard Pena Raymond. McCraw pointed out that Laredo in fact does serve as the first line of defense and with the number of trucks that commute throughout the city on a daily bases, he sees the great need for successful inspections. Fire Chief Steve Landin, also present at the meeting re-visited a previous item, a new Emergency Operation Center (EOC) within the Fire administration building, which had a support bill pass in the House during the last Legislative session but fell short in the Senate. The EOC would increase Laredo’s effectiveness and coordination in the event of an emergency with assisting agencies. McCraw was receptive to the idea of combining forces at the City’s EOC and indicated that he would provide funding for additional technology to make the facility fully functional.

Moving from one side of the Capitol to another, Rep. Raymond joined the Laredo Delegation during a meeting with Governor Rick Perry’s Legislative Director, Senator Ken Armbrister. Their focus was to obtain advice on navigating issues related to transportation, health and security projects. The Senator provided useful information, specifically on proposed initiatives that can provide support to Laredo’s legislative agenda. The group also discussed the importance of allocating funds to keep up with the Eagle Ford Shale boom, relating to its impact on people flocking to hospitals and healthcare facilities in the south Texas region.

The emphasis on various issues to progress the communities’ agenda will continue tomorrow, Wednesday, January 30, 2013, and will wrap up with the traditional Laredo Day in Austin Reception at the Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental Hotel on Congress Avenue.