Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.
Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?
Love to see more in the way of newspeople out asking questions. Get away from posting the press release handed down from whatever agency was involved in the latest bust.
Zero questions from newspeople:
Local meth news stories here.
Local heroin news stories here.
Plenty of questions here:
Port Angeles – Post 911 CBP Spending Spree
The press release style of news reporting avoids asking questions. Our questions appear in bold type.
June 2, 2010 Peninsula Daily News
What happens next to alleged Canadian smugglers of a quarter-ton of pot?
“Customs and Border Protection agents on marine patrol apprehended the Canadians unloading 547 pounds of “B.C. bud” marijuana off the Deep Creek area about halfway between Port Angeles and Neah Bay at about 1:30 a.m. Monday, authorities said.”
July 4, 2010 Peninsula Daily News
Details emerge in big ‘BC bud’ pot bust case
“Two Canadian nationals were caught unloading it from a boat near Clallam Bay at about 1:20 a.m. May 31, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent’s account of what occurred the night of the men’s capture following a 1.5-mile, high-speed boat chase.”
Why are Border Patrol arrest statistics secret at Port Angeles?
Port Angeles CBP arrest statistics are secret:
March 19, 2014 Sequim Gazette
Agent counters allegations of ‘boredom’
“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.”
Go and ask the FBI for Chicago bank robbery statistics. You’ll get the numbers. They won’t tell you that statistics/public records must be withheld because stats would assist bank robbers if they were shared with the public.
What other law enforcement agencies, anywhere in the US maintain secret arrest statistics?
Washington State Patrol shares DUI arrest statistics on social media here:
“Our #WSP District 8 troopers removed 1,429 impaired drivers from the roads in 2018.”
“Here is a breakdown of what it looks like in each of our 7 counties.”
Elsewhere, when CBP has something to brag about-the public is promptly notified:
Border Patrol K-9 Sniffs out Cocaine Hidden in Dashboard
Border Patrol Stops Drug Smuggler on I-8
Border Patrol Agent’s Public Safety Check Turns into Heroin Bust
If releasing info about arrests helps the bad guys, why was the public promptly notified of the May 31, 2010 arrests described at the top of this page?
Almost exactly 10 years later:
May 16, 2020 Bellingham Herald
Border agents seize nearly 500 pounds of marijuana on boat from Canada
“Several agencies partnered to intercept a drug shipment from Canada Monday, May 11, that contained nearly 500 pounds of marijuana, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”
“Department of Homeland Security investigators, along with Bellingham Air and Marine Operations and Border Patrol agents, tracked the 23-foot Bayliner boat from Canadian waters to the John Wayne Marina in Sequim, according to a news release Friday, May 15. Agents then seized the boat and 497 pounds of marijuana.”
The most complete coverage on this incident seems to come from state-run media:
May 15, 2020 U.S. Customs and Border Protection
DHS partners coordinate to seize nearly 500 pounds of marijuana
“U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Port Angeles Station in coordination with Air and Marine Operations, Bellingham Air and Marine Branch, and Homeland Security Investigations interdicted a narcotics smuggling load on Monday, which had originated in Canada.”
May 12, 2020 US Border Patrol Acting Chief Patrol Agent Tony Holladay
“Blaine Sector’s Port Angeles Station, CBP’s AMO and HSI seized 496 pounds of marijuana that was smuggled across the U.S./Canada maritime border yesterday morning. Always vigilant! #Teamwork #HonorFirst”
If releasing info about arrests will help the bad guys, why was the public promptly notified of the May 11, 2020 arrests described above?
Two incidents, almost exactly 10 years apart, both involving very similar quantities of marijuana.
Since Sept. 11th, 2001, are these the only two cross-border arrests made by the Port Angeles Border Patrol?
Are legal marijuana rules and restrictions in Washington State, so complicated that the black market continues to thrive?
Questions newspeople will not ask:
Are fraudulent overtime claims still the norm at Port Angeles?
Border Patrol whistleblower pays price for refusing overtime pay
Has Port Angeles CBP been able to intercept any inbound meth or heroin?
Even one time?
Is local CBP staffing and infrastructure at all relevant in keeping heroin and meth from entering Port Angeles, Clallam County, the Olympic Peninsula, or the Puget Sound area?
Newspeople,
Why did the Blaine Sector Weekly US Border Patrol blotter go extinct?
When local USBP staffing went from four to 42 agents, what increase in arrests and apprehensions was achieved?
Related:
Cartel responds to General Milley by moving more product into the US
Zero Questions from Puget Sound Area Newspeople – Drug War Press Release
Pentagon Going After Cartels Update
Podcast 2 Pentagon Taking On Drug Cartels
DOD Symbolism vs. Track Record
The Big Drug Bust – Always Reported as a Highly Successful Team Effort
Growing Up In The Cold War Era
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger–a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions: Operation Macho Swagger & Port Angeles Heroin
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Vancouver Island from Crescent Beach