Language

As a US Customs Chopper Goes to School

Submitted February 2, 2005 - 3:00 am by Al Giordano
I love this local TV News website along the U.S.-Mexican border. Channel 4 also reports tonight that a U.S. Customs Agent (that's "Homeland Security Agent" for those of you born after 2001) used an agency helicopter to respond to a personal matter involving his daughter at school...

Reported by Ray Pedraza

FEBRUARY 1, 2005 - Action 4 News received an e-mail from Jorge Hernandez, an El Paso contractor who witnessed something out of the ordinary at Kennedy Elementary in Mercedes.

He claims a federal agent was on parental patrol in a government chopper, all at taxpayers' expense.

Hernandez even substantiated his claims by providing pictures of the agent and the chopper, landing on the school campus.

According to Hernandez, the assistant superintendent for Mercedes schools told him the agent flew after learning his daughter was involved in a school scuffle.

"He approached the (assistant) superintendent and told him that he got a call that his daughter had been attacked," said Hernandez, through a recorded phone interview.

Hernandez says he saw the officer go behind closed doors with school administrators to resolve the matter.

As far he could tell, Hernandez says the agent was a U.S. Customs officer.

"Oh, yeah, yeah. Obviously the U.S. customs uniform was on."

We checked with Mercedes school administrators about the helicopter landing, which Hernandez says occurred last Thursday.

A spokesman for the district, Walter Watson, told us he was unaware of the situation. He also said the school's superintendent and assistant superintendent were unavailable for comment.

Hernandez says the school girl scuffle was no big deal but her daddy's actions are. He wants to know how the agent taxied himself at taxpayer expense.

"Obviously, nobody wants to be paying. That's where our tax payer dollars are going. This guy is out on duty and uses his helicopter to do personal stuff?"

Action 4 News forwarded the pictures to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Rick Pauza.

He would not confirm or deny that this is one of the their officers or aircraft but did say the matter is under review.

He says it is too soon in the investigation to find out if the agent will face any disciplinary action.

Film at 11.

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