Posted on 03/17/2011 10:53:36 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
LA JOYA - With every pin of the badge and every zip of the uniform, a law officer knows his or her life is on the line. A new threat from Mexican cartels highlights that danger.
The warning sends La Joya PD and other departments a message: the front line on the war on drugs is here, in the front seat of the patrol unit.
La Joya police say they know they have a target on their back. It comes with the job.
“For them to get the load across, they're going to do anything in their power, but of course, we're gong to do everything to stop it,” says Juan Cerrillo with the La Joya Police Department.
A new cartel threat says high-ranking drug lords have stricter orders for smugglers: get the drugs through or we're coming after your family. It's in response to the U.S. crackdown on organized crime. A nationwide roundup earlier this month landed hundreds of suspected cartel members in jail.
In La Joya, department policy states do not let a criminal get away. They tell us a cartel warning won't change the way they do business.
“It's not going to stop anything. It comes with the uniform, with the badge. It's not going to scare our department. We're going to take care of our city,” says Cerrillo.
Police opened fire on a vehicle last year. The suspected smuggler wasn't going to stop. Police blew out the tires.
“What can we do? We have to be more active around the area,” says Cerrillo.
This week, more than 200 pounds of drugs were taken off the streets.
“I asked him if he had anything illegal in his vehicle. He said he did,” says Peter Garza with the La Joya Police Department.
The driver didn't obey the cartel warning. He was armed. A knife and brass knuckles were in the vehicle.
“They're just trying to scare us by using that tactic,” says Cerrillo.
La Joya police say it won't work.
La Joya police arrested a 21-year-old man Wednesday for trafficking drugs through the city. He'll go before the judge Thursday.
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