Ernie Almodovar got a taste of what a Border Patrol agent might encounter as they man checkpoints.
As part of a simulation aimed at introducing local residents to the duties and responsibilities of the agency, Almodovar said the Border Patrol’s Citizens Academy gave him the “inside scoop” about an agent’s environment and authority, that dispelled some of the notions he previously encountered.
Coming from a family that immigrated from Mexico, the Calexico resident said he constantly heard stories about “la migra’s” questionable enforcement tactics.
“It was all handed down by previous generations,” Almodovar said, referring to some longstanding attitudes about the agency in the Latino community.
Almodovar was one of about a dozen Valley residents who participated in the agency’s Citizens Academy recently. The academy has been held almost every year for the past several years and is open to members of the public who can meet certain conditions, such as a background check and being in fairly good physical condition, said Border Patrol agent and public information officer Jonathan Creiglow.
Like many federal agencies, the Border Patrol has in recent years moved away from being “disconnected” from the communities that they serve, toward a more integrated relationship, said Ed Wells, director of the Police Officer Standards and Training program at Imperial Valley College.
Having the federal government start to be more involved within the communities they serve is a great way to address community concerns, Wells said. Previously, such initiatives were more often carried out by state or local agencies.
“They have to internally want to reach out to the community,” Wells said, adding that input gathered through community outreach can prove instrumental in shaping policing, Wells said.
Here in the Imperial Valley the agency also enjoys a longstanding status as one of the area’s more reputable employers.
Because of the high visibility of many law enforcement officials in the Valley, there is an increased interest in those types of careers, said Wells.
Like many other local, county, state and federal agencies, the U.S. Border Patrol tries to recruit locals from the community, Wells said. Such local recruits understand the particulars of this environment and are more likely to stay rather than move onto a different law enforcement agency.
“People from within the community have a truly vested interest in how they’re safeguarding the area,” Wells said.
Staff Writer and Copy Editor Julio Morales can be reached at 760-335-4665.
As part of a simulation aimed at introducing local residents to the duties and responsibilities of the agency, Almodovar said the Border Patrol’s Citizens Academy gave him the “inside scoop” about an agent’s environment and authority, that dispelled some of the notions he previously encountered.
Coming from a family that immigrated from Mexico, the Calexico resident said he constantly heard stories about “la migra’s” questionable enforcement tactics.
“It was all handed down by previous generations,” Almodovar said, referring to some longstanding attitudes about the agency in the Latino community.
Almodovar was one of about a dozen Valley residents who participated in the agency’s Citizens Academy recently. The academy has been held almost every year for the past several years and is open to members of the public who can meet certain conditions, such as a background check and being in fairly good physical condition, said Border Patrol agent and public information officer Jonathan Creiglow.
Like many federal agencies, the Border Patrol has in recent years moved away from being “disconnected” from the communities that they serve, toward a more integrated relationship, said Ed Wells, director of the Police Officer Standards and Training program at Imperial Valley College.
Having the federal government start to be more involved within the communities they serve is a great way to address community concerns, Wells said. Previously, such initiatives were more often carried out by state or local agencies.
“They have to internally want to reach out to the community,” Wells said, adding that input gathered through community outreach can prove instrumental in shaping policing, Wells said.
Here in the Imperial Valley the agency also enjoys a longstanding status as one of the area’s more reputable employers.
Because of the high visibility of many law enforcement officials in the Valley, there is an increased interest in those types of careers, said Wells.
Like many other local, county, state and federal agencies, the U.S. Border Patrol tries to recruit locals from the community, Wells said. Such local recruits understand the particulars of this environment and are more likely to stay rather than move onto a different law enforcement agency.
“People from within the community have a truly vested interest in how they’re safeguarding the area,” Wells said.
Staff Writer and Copy Editor Julio Morales can be reached at 760-335-4665.
