𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗙𝗙 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗙𝗙 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗦𝗖 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗨𝗠 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗬 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗪𝗬𝗘𝗥𝗦

 

It was tempting to not report on the Sheriffs Candidate Forum held yesterday at Texas Southmost College's cute little legal center at 80 Fort Brown.

Between my obvious hearing loss and the always inadequate public address/microphone situation in Brownsville, I only got snippets of dialogue from the four candidates; Ronnie Saenz, Eric Garza, Jimmy Manrrique and Jesus Rosas.

The man with actually the least real law enforcement experience, the Cameron County Sheriff for the last three years, Eric Garza, was actually the most effective communicator, eschewing the microphone and speaker's stand altogether while walking back and forth, making eye contact with the audience.

As I told former City Commissioner Estela Chavez-Vasquez before the meeting: "I'm sure they can all make an arrest, but I'm looking for someone who can stand in front of the entire department, motivate and communicate."

The lone candidate still wearing the traditional cowboy hat indoors, Jesus Rosas, made a poignant point addressing the prospect of law enforcement facing the additional task of immigration enforcement:  "Think about that young girl victimized by a sexual assault whose parents are undocumented.  Will they come forward if they're worried about an arrest for not being here legally?"

Actually none of the candidates relished the prospect of the added burden of immigration enforcement with Jimmy Manrrique flatly saying that it would "drain our resources and manpower, but we'll do it if we have to."

Ronnie Saenz referred to his "22 years as a business owner," coupled with his law enforcement experience, saying it helped him see matters from "all sides."

Sheriff Eric Garza thought that careful management of resources had allowed his department to purchase "six drones at $100,000 each plus a $75,000 armored vehicle for use in a mass shooting," while admitting that "technology" was not the total answer.

The event was sponsored by the Cameron County Defense Lawyers Association under the direction of local attorneys Sara Stapleton Barrera, Cesar De Leon and Michael Gonzalez.