City Council Approves Memorandum of Understanding with U.S. Marshal’s Service regarding Violent Offender Task Force

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Eagle Pass Police Department Chief Alberto Guajardo’s recent meetings with representatives of the United States Marshal’s Service for the Western District of Texas in Del Rio, Texas has resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Eagle Pass Police Department and the federal agency regarding cooperation and participation in the Violent Offender Task Force between the two entities.

The Eagle Pass City Council unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Eagle Pass and the U.S. Marshal’s Service at their special meeting held on

Eagle Pass City Manager Gloria Barrientos stated that the mission statement of the task force is to investigate and arrest, as part of joint law enforcement operations, persons who have active state and federal warrants for their arrest. The intent of the joint effort is to investigate and apprehend local, state and federal fugitives, thereby improving public safety and reducing violent crime.

Barrientos also stated that the joint task force focuses on cases such as violent crimes against people, weapons offenses, felony drug offenses, failure to register as a sex offender, and crimes committed by subjects with a criminal history of violent crimes.  “This will be the first time that the City of Eagle Pass Police Department officially participates in this Task Force,” said Barrientos.

Eagle Pass Police Chief Alberto Guajardo advised City Council that Eagle Pass Detective Hector Blanco will be the Eagle Pass Police Department Officer assigned to work in this Violent Offender Task Force.  “This is an opportunity to work with this task force. Detective Hector Blanco has worked in the past with some of the mentioned issues such as sex offender cases,” said City Manager Barrientos.

Police Chief Guajardo stated that in the past Detective Hector Blanco has worked on many cases and has done so for over 20 years and also keeps track of the 31 sex offenders registered in our community.

Police Chief Guajardo cited a case in which Detective Blanco assisted the U.S. Marshal’s Office regarding a sex offender who failed to register in our community that led to a federal grand jury indictment of this individual for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements.  “We have participated and have also been helped but we have never been part of the joint task force where other law enforcement agencies along our area are currently part of it,” said Chief Guajardo.  “By working together with them in a more coherent manner , we join forces, gather intelligence, share resources and we also assist the U.S Marshal’s Office in apprehending violent offenders in our community,” added Guajardo.

Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu commended Police Chief Guajardo and the entire Eagle Pass Police Department for the work that they have done and are doing to protect and serve the citizens of Eagle Pass.  “It is good to see that our police department is joining forces with other departments whether they be state or federal.   I think that is one thing we must do–to strengthen partnerships with state and federal agencies,” said Mayor Cantu.