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Reuters - Police in an Arizona border city are on heightened alert after receiving a warning from a Mexican drug cartel that officers may be targeted if they carry out off-duty drug busts, authorities said on Tuesday.

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This issue has become surreal and that slimey stretch of border, in fact the whole thing, should be McChrystal's new assignment.

Why are they threatening only those making "off-duty" busts?

That's a good question..

My guess is that the threat was to scare off anyone considering the idea of getting involved in anything that gets in the way of these guys; be they civilian or off-duty cops.

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

My guess is that the threat was to scare off anyone considering the idea of getting involved in anything that gets in the way of these guys; be they civilian or off-duty cops.

Because on-duty cops don't get in their way, anyhow???

Different from most who wear a badge in Mexico, many in law enforcement north of the border are armed when off-duty. So are many who do not carry a badge. Arizona probably has a higher average than most and with the current state of affairs and public opinion in Arizona, my guess is that these guys want to send a message to discourage anybody from getting in their way along that popular border crossing route.

Thanks for the explanation, BG.

A more cynical person might wonder what percentage of that off-duty bust made it to the evidence locker.

Originally Posted by Marty Cortez

A more cynical person might wonder what percentage of that off-duty bust made it to the evidence locker.

All of it

Originally Posted by Teniente

All of it

I wish that were true but with family in law enforcement and one involved in undercover narcotics, I know that simply isn't the case. I do believe that the majority who wear a badge are good people who follow the rules but to deny that a percentage of bad apples exist is to ignore reality. If you don't agree just google "dirty cops robbing drugs".

You get over 300,000 search results.

My comments are based on my personal experiences of 34 years in law enforcement, including stints in narcotics task forces and supervision of some of those task forces.....No "diversion" took place on my watch, as we followed policy and used a 2 or 3 person rule when handling evidence to include narcotics or cash.

Problems occur with lax supervision and failure to follow policy.

Exactly....

Originally Posted by Teniente

No "diversion" took place on my watch...

Knowing you Terry, that doesn't surprise me one bit. But with 34 years on the force you know they weren't all like you, unfortunately. And less so today.

Supervision and policy don't carry much weight when an officer decides to "moonlight" on his own...

Fortunately for those 34 years, no reported, documented or suspected diversions in those agencies I worked. Plenty of screw-ups with "lost", then "found" evidence due to not following procedures and paperwork screwups, and lax supervisory oversight.

Once during an evidence vault audit of my regional office by HQ auditors, they discovered a kilo of coke "missing". I/2 an hour later it was located.......placed in wrong bin when returned by the crime lab......
That trooper and I had a very long heart to heart chat........I also mentioned something about his being reassigned to graveyard crossing guard duty in Duckwater if he didn't "pull his head out"

Did/do you work in Arizona, Teniente? For state or local police?

Worked for a city PD and a county S/O in California. Retired from Nevada DPS (State Police)

And most of us don't hold it against you...

Originally Posted by wessongroup

And most of us don't hold it against you...

Myself and Dr Glock thank you!!!!!

this is true...