Honest management of public information- US Border Patrol station Port Angeles, WA

Show of hands- how many smaller government folks are OK with having the Border Patrol around to act as a federal reserve force for local law enforcement agencies?

Other than the June 3rd incident below- when was the last time the Port Angeles Border Patrol used a helicopter to successfully apprehend anyone- to include any incident related to assisting local law enforcement agencies or preventing any person from illegally entering the US?

“Nothing in the Constitution gives the federal government authority over ordinary crimes. In America, crime fighting is the responsibility of state and local government. But despite the lack of constitutional authorization, federal policymakers continually try to involve themselves in crime fighting.”

US Border Patrol on the scene- UPDATE — Man taken into custody after manhunt following homicide

Well done US Border Patrol– many supportive comments follow the article above.

“During a manhunt in the area, a dog team and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter were called in to assist with the search.

“That helicopter was probably instrumental in keeping him pinned down,” Peregrin said.”

“Drum was tracked down by a dog team and flushed out of a wooded area by a Customs and Border Protection helicopter Sunday after a manhunt that lasted more than three hours. He was armed with a 9mm pistol, Benedict said.”

DHS offers a much more detailed report:

“06/03/2012- Port Angeles Border Patrol agents responded to a request for assistance from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office for an ongoing manhunt. The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office was searching for a subject who had allegedly invaded a home near Port Angeles and murdered one occupant. Port Angeles Border Patrol agents, an air asset from Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine in Bellingham, along with multiple local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies established a containment zone around the last known location of the suspect. The CBP helicopter and Border Patrol agents on the ground spotted an individual matching the murder suspect in a wooded area. Border Patrol agents subdued and disarmed the subject who had a 9mm pistol and knife in his possession at the time of the arrest. The suspect and weapons were turned over to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.”

Maybe this is a good time to ask-

Word of US Border Patrol involvement in the above incident was immediately released to the public.

Why is the public told that USBP arrest statistics involving the US/Canada border must remain secret?

Aug 2010-

A US Border Patrol spokesperson tells the press:

“Border Patrol spokeswoman Jenny Burke said Monday that the agency will not release any information on the number of arrests made by agents who work out of the Port Angeles station, the names of those arrested, what they were arrested for and the disposition of their cases”

“The number of arrests for Port Angeles’ or any other station is “law enforcement-sensitive,” Burke said.”

“The names of those arrested and other facts about them are not available for release under the 1974 Privacy Act, she said.”

Aug 2011-

“In March, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Richard Sinks declined to release statistics on apprehensions or detainments made by the Port Angeles station.”

“Disclosure of the arrest statistics from the Port Angeles station would provide those interested in crossing our borders illegally with information that could aid their strategic targeting of potentially vulnerable areas along the border,” he said in an e-mail. “To maintain operational security these numbers will not be provided.”

Arrest statistics are secret.

Secret arrest policy instantly lifted if something to brag about takes place.