Sheriff Tom Schmerber hosts successful Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition Conference

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2015, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber and the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department hosted the successful 2015 Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition Annual Winter Meeting this past week from January 13-15, 2015, at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Hotel & Casino with over 20 Texas counties’ Sheriffs participating.

.“We are glad to announce that the meeting was a great success as important issues were addressed and we look forward to continuing to work together with our counterparts from the Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition. Our Coalition members are at the forefront of law enforcement and security on the U.S.-Mexico border,” said Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber.

Those in attendance discussed important issues affecting the U.S.-Mexico border Sheriff’s Departments, including the Texas Border Patrol Bill, an examination of the needs and concerns of each border county, the TBSC’s annual trip to Washington, D.C. to advocate for U.S.-Mexico border law enforcement and security issues and funding, the possible approval of resolutions concerning border security issues, and an open forum on the latest U.S.-Mexico border law enforcement and security issues.

A presentation by retired Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez discussed important issues and facts useful to all law enforcement officials in attendance.

On Thursday, January 15th, the conference was highlighted with a presentation by Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Chief Kim Vickers regarding Sheriff’s Training Issues and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw also hosted a roundtable discussion regarding the State of Texas response and funding for Texas-Mexico border security issues.

The Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition works with the Texas Governor’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety on the state’s Texas Border Watch Operation, a state grant of over $2 million.

Over fifty dignitaries and public officials from the U.S.-Mexico border region gathered for a two day conference at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Hotel. Invited guests and representatives from the various law enforcement agencies participated and gave their input on important U.S.-Mexico border security and law enforcement issues.

Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico Mayor Fernando Puron Johnston attended the conference and presented his administration’s new security measures to combat organized crime and bring peace and security to visitors, tourists, and local residents to his U.S.-Mexico border community. Mayor Puron invited the participants of the Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition to join the Piedras Negras, Coahuila municipal police, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to sponsor a joint U.S.-Mexico Border Security conference in Piedras Negras, Coahuila in the future, which was well-received by participants. Mayor Puron stated that he wanted to learn American border security and law enforcement measures as well as advise Americans that Mexico is undertaking measures to make the U.S.-Mexico border safer and more secure for tourists, visitors, and residents.

Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber and his staff thank the conference participants for attending and extends them an open invitation to return for another conference in Maverick County in the future.

The Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition was founded in 2005 by El Paso County Sheriff Leo Samaniego to represent the law enforcement and security needs of all Texas-Mexico Border Sheriff’s Departments. Since its founding in 2005, the Texas Border Sheriff’s Coalition helped found the Southwestern Border Sheriff’s Coalition representing over 90 counties on the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California to represent the needs and concerns of all U.S.-Mexico border Sheriff’s Departments.