Filner pursues funding promised border agencies By NICOLAS TABOREK, Staff Writer
Thursday, January 8, 2009 10:00 PM PST
Rep. Bob Filner, D-Chula Vista, has joined Imperial County law enforcement officials in wondering what has become of $2 million in promised federal aid for the Sheriff’s Office and local police departments.
The U.S. Border Patrol in October announced law enforcement agencies in the county would begin receiving the aid under Operation Stonegarden, a federal initiative to bolster border area law enforcement. But unexplained delays have prevented local departments from increasing overtime and purchasing equipment with the grants.
In a letter sent last month to R. David Paulison, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Filner said the grants are crucial for law enforcement in border communities. He said the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and the police departments in El Centro, Imperial, Calexico and Brawley have not begun receiving Stonegarden aid.
“I would like to know the process for these law enforcement agencies to begin receiving these grants, what steps may be taken to expedite their delivery, and a point of contact where the agencies may be able to make further inquiries about (Stonegarden) funding,” he wrote in the Dec. 15 letter.
The Calexico Police Department, which was awarded $500,000 under the program, confirmed Thursday no Stonegarden money has arrived.
“We’re still waiting for the money to be allocated to us,” Lt. Gonzalo Gerardo said.
El Centro Interim Police Chief Harold Carter said his department has not received its share of the money, either.
“The only thing that we’ve been told is that the grant is in Washington, tentatively to be released soon. We don’t know any more than that,” Carter said.
Carter said he appreciates Filner advocating on behalf of the local agencies but said he has not received a recent update on the status of the funds.
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