Federal grants to keep more Starr County deputies on street
RIO GRANDE CITY — County budget limitations keep only three Starr County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol duties during each day’s shift to respond to routine calls.
But the availability of state and federal border security grants has helped expand the office’s operations, allowing them to have regular patrols along the Rio Grande and interdict vehicles carrying drugs, weapons and illegal immigrants.
“(State and federal money) puts 10 to 15 officers extra out there to target high-crime areas,” said Sgt. Narciso Posadas, who leads the agency’s Border Interdiction Unit of six deputies that is funded entirely by the state. “We gain the upper hand by having more manpower.”
Starr County will receive a $627,000 federal grant from Operation Stonegarden, an initiative that enhances local law enforcement’s ability to aid border security operations. Since Starr County became eligible for the program in 2008, it has received $4.9 million in Operation Stonegarden grants to purchase equipment, pay overtime for deputies and enhance collaboration with neighboring law enforcement agencies.
Hidalgo County, which received $800,000 from the grant program this year, has received $5.6 million in Stonegarden funds to date.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, who announced the grant allocations Wednesday, said Operation Stonegarden is critical for local law enforcement agencies, like the Starr County Sheriff’s Office, that are on the front lines of combating drug smuggling, illegal immigration and other border-related crime. He said the grant funding will benefit communities in border counties by supporting and improving law enforcement coordination.
The Starr County Sheriff’s Office will use most of its Stonegarden allocation to pay overtime. Posadas said tacking a few extra hours of overtime to its deputies’ shifts allows his agency to provide better coverage along the border.
But those overtime hours can also help local law enforcement agencies better coordinate with their federal counterparts, said Enrique Mendiola, a special operations supervisor with U.S. Border Patrol.
“Law enforcement agencies leveraging off of each other and working together collaboratively is important,” Mendiola said. “When we bring all these law enforcement agencies together, we’re performing a function that is going to better secure our communities throughout the Valley.”
The Rio Grande City Police Department has received Stonegarden funds — distributed by Starr County — to pay overtime for officers and cover the costs of essential equipment such as radios, bulletproof vests and patrol units, said Mayor Ruben Villarreal. Federal grant programs for local law enforcement agencies are decreasing due to federal budget cuts, but he expressed hope that Stonegarden would remain in place.
“You hear all the time that money is tight,” he said. “Anything that is invested along this corridor is well worth it because this is the gateway to our country. The things we face along the border are daunting.”
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Jared Janes covers Hidalgo County government, Edinburg and legislative issues for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4424.
