The News Room [Press Archive]
Sheriff Contact: John Roach: 313-224-0615
Release Date: Thursday, January 8, 2004
New collaborative tightens homeland security net at US-Canadian
border -- Trucks and trains smuggling explosives, drugs
and other terrorist-related cargo are focus of new multi-layered
initiative
On the eve of a visit to Detroit by the US Homeland Security Director,
Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans today unveiled a new layer of
security against terrorism along the US-Canadian border. The Border
Enforcement Security Team [BEST] is a unit of specially trained
officers who will perform a large volume of inspections of commercial
trucks and trains coming into the United States from Canada. Its
primary goal is to block the flow of terrorist-related cargo into
the country.
The new effort brings together a myriad of agencies, including
Detroit’s Police Department, and Harbormaster, Detroit-Wayne
County Port Authority, numerous federal agencies and Canadian authorities.
The salaries for the equivalent of 60 officers are being paid for
out of a $3 million federal grant awarded to the Sheriff’s Office late last year to enhance homeland security.
BEST officers will be stationed primarily near the Ambassador
Bridge seven days per week. Among the things they will be looking
for will be:
- Weapons & explosives
- Hazardous materials
- Narcotics
- Illegal aliens
- Unsafe and overweight vehicles/Unqualified drivers
“We know that due to the high volume of commercial vehicles
that cross the Ambassador Bridge every day, a good deal of contraband
is making its way into the United States,” Evans said. “We
have established this team of officers to help cut the lifelines
of drugs, weapons and hazardous materials that feed terrorist organizations.”
Agencies to share intelligence
To perform its task effectively, Evans said his department has
established an intelligence-sharing network at the Ambassador
Bridge with officials from Border Patrol, US Immigration, Customs
and DEA. Enforcement officers will act on tips and intelligence
info received through this new network and will conduct intensive
inspections and investigations of suspicious commercial vehicles.
Evans said that officers stationed near the bridge are expected
to perform up to 40 inspections per day, a huge increase over prior
levels.
“Any time you get agencies sharing information and working
together, good things are going to happen,” said Evans, a
constant advocate for inter-agency cooperation. “I expect
that we will be catching significant violations every day that
otherwise would have gone unchecked.”
Historically, this kind of inspection has not been routinely conducted
at the bridge because of the detrimental affect it would have on
the efficiency of the border crossing and a lack of personnel.
By staging the inspection in controlled areas just beyond the bridge,
Evans said that the flow of legitimate commerce into the United
State would not be negatively affected. The primary point of inspection
will be the Detroit Marine Terminal lot located at the base of
Clark Street at W. Jefferson Ave.
Trains & Boats also targeted
Another aspect of the BEST operation will include inspections of
train cars coming to the United States coming through the Canadian
Pacific Railway tunnel in southwest Detroit and boats along the
Detroit River.
The tunnel is a common route used by people entering the country
illegally by jumping a train. Evans said that in addition to checking
trains for illegal aliens, his department would perform random
checks using his department’s trained explosive and drug
detection canines.
Along the water, Sheriff’s Marine Unit officers will perform
safety and identification inspections on small craft and act on
tips of suspicious activity from citizens or US and Canadian officials.
Benefits extend to roadway safety
Another major benefit of the program is the overweight and unsafe
vehicles that will be taken off the road. Michigan already allows
the heaviest trucks in the nation and the many overweight vehicles
that use the local road system cause untold damage to the pavement.
“Since these most of these inspections will include weighing
the vehicle, experience tells me that we will catch a lot of drivers
in violation,” Evans said. “In addition, we also will
be catching vehicles that other mechanical problems that could
make them a potential hazard to other motorists.”
Border Enforcement Security Team [BEST]
Key Agencies
- Wayne County Sheriff’s Office [grant recipient]
- Detroit Police Department
- Detroit Harbor Master
- Border Patrol
- Immigration
- DEA
- US Customs
Key points of enforcement
- Ambassador Bridge
- Canadian Pacific rail tunnel
- Detroit Riverfront
Key areas to be targeted
- Weapons & explosives
- Hazardous materials
- Narcotics
- Illegal aliens
- Unsafe and overweight vehicles/Unqualified drivers
Key Benefits
- Improved intelligence gathering and sharing
- Cuts off resources to terrorist cells through key points of
entry
- Slows flow of drugs into community
- Enhances public safety
- Protects roads from overweight trucks, unsafe trucks and unqualified
commercial drivers
Funding
- $3 million US Department of Justice special overtime grant
- $1.16 million in Wayne County Sheriff’s Office matching
funds
Staffing
-
The funding provides for approximately 100,000 hours [overtime]
for Sheriff’s Office personnel. That equates to approximately
60 officers working 40 hours per week through the end of August
2004, which is when the grant funding expires. The funding
applies only to street-level officers, not supervisory personnel.
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