DPS on alert in southern Arizona after reports of cartel violence in Mexico

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Public Safety is on alert in the southern part of the state following reports of drug cartel-related violence just across the border in Mexico.

In a series of tweets Wednesday, DPS said it is ready to work with agencies on both sides of the border.

With an unconfirmed death toll on the Mexican side of the border of 10 victims, there is no higher priority than to protect the public safety of Arizonans.
We are in close contact with our federal partners (2/3)

— Dept. Public Safety (@Arizona_DPS) June 12, 2019

Gov. Doug Ducey added in a tweet that he’d “instructed DPS to stand ready to assist our local and federal partners as needed.”

There is no greater priority than protecting the safety of Arizonans. We are monitoring closely, and I’ve instructed DPS to stand ready to assist our local and federal partners as needed. https://t.co/8r4iXSXr1k

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) June 12, 2019

Ducey and DPS used the same phrase: “There is no higher priority than to protect the public safety of Arizonans.”

On Tuesday, The Associated Press, citing Mexican authorities, reported that nine people were killed and a child was wounded in two gunbattles in border towns in the state of Sonora.

One of the incidents was in Agua Prieta, just across the border from Douglas, Arizona. The other was in Naco, about 10 miles south of Bisbee.

Director Frank Milstead tweeted that he’d assigned troopers to the Cochise County sheriff’s border task force.

AZDPS has an ongoing relationship w/ State of Sonora Police Department. @Arizona_DPS has Troopers assigned to the Cochise County Sheriffs Departments @CochiseCountyAZ @SheriffDannels border task force. This is a significant issue, now cartel members are seeking asylum in the US https://t.co/ouS41v3xxW

— Col. Frank Milstead (@frank_milstead) June 12, 2019

DPS also said it has offered support to Sonoran state police.

The governor’s office and DPS both declined to comment further.

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