On Friday afternoon, a Border Patrol agent shot and killed a man on a Green Valley golf course, who had fled on foot from a vehicle loaded down with bundles of marijuana.
According to CPB, “agents on patrol attempted to conduct a stop on a suspicious vehicle on Interstate 19 near Green Valley.”
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection statement, “The vehicle’s driver failed to yield to the agent’s emergency lights and sirens and continued driving. The driver stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Abrego Drive and Camino Encanto.
From there he fled on foot. “Agents pursued the driver and during the encounter, an agent discharged his service issued weapon, resulting in the death of the driver,” according to the statement.
The incident closed the Torres Blancas Golf Course
Also on Friday, a report, commissioned by U.S. Customs and Border reviewing the Use of Force by CBP officers and agents was made public.
The Police Executive Research Forum conducted the review of all CBP use of deadly force events from January 2010 through October 2012 and CBP use of force policies, equipment, tactics, and training.
The report reviewed Customs and Border Protection Use of Force Policies and 67 case files related to Customs and Border Protection agents’ use of deadly force. Case files were sorted in general categories to include: firearm response to subjects armed with firearms; firearm response to rocks thrown on land; firearm response to rocks thrown on water; firearms use against vehicles; and other firearm cases.
Policies included the “Use of Force Policy Handbook” and the following ten directives:
● 4510-020C: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Body Armor Policy
● 4510-026b: Controlled Tire Deflation Device Directive
● 4510-029: Pepperball Launching System (PLS) Policy
● 4510-029a: Use of Electronic Control Devices
● 4510-031: FN303 Less Lethal Launcher System Policy
● 4510-032: Less Lethal Specialty Impact – Chemical Munitions Policy
● 4510-033: Use of Air Disabling Fire Policy
● 4510-034: CBP Use Of Force Steering Committee (UFSC)
● 4510-035: Foreign Attaché Firearms Directive
● 5290-012a: CBP Use Of Force Incident Review Program
“The case reviews raise a number of concerns, especially with regard to shots fired at vehicles and shots fired at subjects throwing rocks and other objects at agents,” reads the report. “Improvements are also recommended in initial reporting, investigation, incident review, weapons, personal protective equipment, and training. Recommendations for changes in policies flow from these case reviews.”
The reviewers found two policy and practice areas that are “especially need significant change. First, officers/agents should be prohibited from shooting at vehicles unless vehicle occupants are attempting to use deadly force–other than the vehicle–against the agent. Training and tactics should focus on avoiding positions that put agents in the path of a vehicle and getting out of the way of moving vehicles.”
“Second, officers/agents should be prohibited from using deadly force against subjects throwing objects not capable of causing serious physical injury or death to them. Officers/agents should be trained to specific situations and scenarios that involve subjects throwing such objects.”
Under the Obama administration, most of the Border Patrol agents stationed in Arizona are at least 20 miles away from the border. The border area has been all but abandoned by the federal government.
Cartels now control the human and drug trafficking corridors with little chance of being stopped as they make their way into the United States.
Check back tomorrow for more of review’s details.