McAllen drug unit receives national, state kudos

McALLEN — The police department’s Special Investigations Unit received national and state recognition from a nonprofit that could use a little recognition itself.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America, a non-profit organization based in Chicago, selected the unit as one of the entities in the country that most represented the ideals of Enrique Camarena

Camarena, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent, died at the hands of the Mexican drug cartels in 1985 while working as an undercover agent in Mexico. He is the driving force behind Red Ribbon Week.

Each year the local Elks lodges sponsor a person who they believe lives up to Camarena’s ideals — that one man can make a difference — said McAllen lodge representative Jerry Ervine.

The local lodge turned to McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez last year for a person he thought best fitted the description.

Rodriguez, however, told Ervine he could not select just one individual because his officers worked as a team. Instead, he asked the lodge to sponsor the entire Special Investigations Unit, which is in charge of keeping drugs off the streets and fighting related crime.

The police department submitted a preamble of what the team stands for and included figures on drug seizures in the millions of dollars, Ervine said.

Last month the lodge received word that judges at the national level awarded the unit second place in the nation, while the Texas Elks State Association ranked them first, he said.

Local representatives held a dinner for the team Jan. 22 and gave them a plaque inscribed with Camarena’s ideals.

“One of the reasons we do this is to let the people of our community know that we exist and this is what we do,” Ervine said. “It’s tough to run a lodge, especially with the economic condition. We don’t have help.”

Each year, the association loses members to attrition, he said. There used to be lodges in Laredo and Corpus Christi, but they’ve shut down due to lack of interest.

“We’re just not getting the young people anymore,” the 40-year member said.

The non-profit, however, continues to provide as much support for the community as possible. They award scholarships that run up to $60,000 for college tuition for students who are dedicated but need financial support.

The monetary gifts are awarded on a competitive basis — only the best of the best get them, Ervine said. A once local recipient is now the chairman of internal medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The lodges also help Miracle Kids of South Texas, a non-profit that helps children with disabilities, and runs a week-long summer camp for them at no cost to the families, he added.

“Our biggest concern is need,” Ervine said, adding that the organization is poised to give a $1,000 check to the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley.

The lodge hopes to attract the younger generations to ensure their work for the community continues.

“We want them back,” Ervine said.

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Naxiely Lopez covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at naxil@themonitor.com and (956)683-4434.