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:

2 Canadians Arrested in Marijuana Smuggling Case on Olympic Peninsula
CBP Collaborative Effort Nets 547 Pounds ‘B.C. Bud’

 

Port Angeles CBP Assets Assist in Arrest of Murder Suspect

“The CBP helicopter and Border Patrol agents on the ground spotted an individual matching the murder suspect in a wooded area near Gelor Road. 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.”

 

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?

Other than the June 3rd incident above- 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?

CBP showcases apprehensions on their own web site. Does this report threaten national security?

Any other law enforcement agencies observing the do not report arrest numbers due to security reasons protocol?

Did news people in the San Diego area place national security at risk by making this report?

 

Imagine a school district wanting to expand staff and facilities and, at the same time- suppressing public information Re: the number of students enrolled, teachers on staff and number of students graduated in the past 36 months.

“…the Border Patrol has refused to divulge the number of agents in Port Angeles…”

 

Local law enforcement agencies set the example in sharing public information with the public.

Compare the Port Angeles Police Dept. to the US Border Patrol.

 

March 2011- Local paper submits FOIA request for USBP arrest numbers to justify new 50 agent station. FOIA request denied. FOIA appeal denied.

 

Hey local reporters-

This local story has been developing for years now. There has been plenty of time for people with the advantage of a press credential to schedule appointments, do interviews & ask questions.

Please help us to make sense of all this.

 

 

Photo-

Happy Hour- Port Hadlock