$11.9 million later- US Border Patrol Port Angeles-

Still limiting press access to information-

“Jones asked a Peninsula Daily News reporter to interview only Border Patrol personnel selected by the agency and to confine interviews of selected personnel to topics concerning the station’s opening.”

 

“The Border Patrol has refused repeated requests by the Peninsula Daily News — including those made under the Freedom of Information Act — for arrest totals for the Port Angeles station, which covers a territory that includes Clallam and Jefferson counties.”

 

The formal, opening ceremony may not have been the best time to address the media Re: local, US Border Patrol history. The Border Patrol is free to use their web site or hold a press conference to keep the public informed- at any time.

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.

 

Our free and independent press recently informed us on Olympic Peninsula US Border Patrol operations.

The article reads like paid advertising or something produced by US Border Patrol public relations.

Most of the photos used in the article were provided by the federal government.

 

Denied FOIA requests and secret arrest statistics are the norm here on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.

Compare to Erie Station- similar to Port Angeles in that it is separated from Canada by water.

The people of Erie, PA got solid news coverage Re: justification for their new US Border station- including arrest statistics- no FOIA required:

U.S. Border Patrol expands presence in Erie

 

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…”

 

Much more to the story-

 

Still no justification provided by elected officials or the US Border Patrol for an upgrade in staff requiring the 50 agent facility.

Ask yourself- why doesn’t the local car dealership have 42 sales people on staff?

Why doesn’t the local real estate office expand to a 50 agent facility?

 

The US Border Patrol at Port Angeles has stopped 2 people from illegally crossing into the US. That incident took place more than 2 years ago.

May 31st, 2010-

Two amphibious Canadian marijuana smugglers are captured on a remote Olympic Peninsula beach by the US Border Patrol.

 

More than a year has passed:

Port Angeles Border Patrol whistleblower- Investigation status unknown.

 

Secret arrest statistics and the denied FOIA request.

 

Suspicionless checkpoints ended on the Olympic Peninsula in 2008. Suspicionless bus boardings ended in November, 2011.

If Olympic Peninsula USBP operations are being downsized, why have local USBP personnel numbers been upsized?

 

News links & documentation here

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Possibly of interest:

The Garage Sale Incident

 

 

Photo- Fort Worden