New Update Fresh From Sheriff Coe's Office

Walking Back Nationally Published Reports

“We’re awaiting approval from the Commissioner’s Court, and busy conducting background checks,” that’s the word from Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe, talking about reports that as many as 100 to 600 volunteer militia men might be operating in Kinney County soon.

The Sheriff did not call recent reporting elsewhere inaccurate, but did say that the number he is working with right now is much smaller.

“Right now, I got about 10 guys we’re looking at,” the Sheriff said, before stressing again in our conversation that there are laws in Texas, and he’s going to need the approval of County Commissioners before going much further.

The Kinney County Sheriff’s Office is a small building with cinderblock walls. It’s not hard to hear things one might not be supposed to, when a large barrel-chested figure like the Sheriff is speaking. Seated in the lobby area before our formal interview, one could hear him apparently discussing logistical matters related to getting background checks done, DD214 paperwork, and other details one hesitates to publish.

The Sheriff is also not a dummy— it’s entirely possible and maybe even likely we were meant to overhear the discussion, in which case one wants to applaud his canny nature.

DD214 paperwork is military shorthand for the discharge materials and records issued for every soldier, marine, sailor and airman upon their departure from active duty. This speaks to the nature of those the Sheriff is apparently most keen on possibly deputizing: Veterans and retired law-enforcement.

“We have to ensure the safety of the county *and* those we arrest,” said the Sheriff, explaining that volunteers with a law-enforcement background will be best suited for moving illegal aliens and others in and out of different levels of custody.

We’re not exactly the Oracle of Delphi here, but as we’ve been reporting, it is highly doubtful that the Sheriff will be going into Monday’s specially called meeting on Public Safety without being able to present a range of options to County leaders. And it is almost certain that bits and pieces of those options and plans have managed to leak out, creating the confusion in not only Kinney County but also around the country in the various communities of people that are closely following this crisis.

Many in Texas and other states have perhaps been imagining grand thoughts of a lone figure to rally around— a servant of the people to lead an army of citizens in securing the border. It is a seductive fantasy. But it must necessarily remain so. There are laws and rules to be followed, and it seems the Sheriff is doing his best to not only follow them, but to be seen to be doing so. The idea of one man, one army, is perhaps an echo of that old saying about the Texas Rangers— one riot, one ranger— but the truth is it will take many different people working in many different areas to fix what’s been broken here along the Rio Grande.

So, what can ordinary folks do who want to help, but are perhaps not yet suitable for the tasks available? Well, the best thing would probably be to continue to beat the bushes and get the word out about what’s happening down here. To spread the county border crisis website www.defendourborders.org far and wide. Not because there’s a way to send money there, but because it lays out in black and white, in one handy location, a timeline of events here in Kinney County that have led to this current crossroads.

So, once again, stay tuned on this front— we will of course be present Monday morning at the County Courthouse, as the Sheriff and County leadership consider what’s to be done.

In the meantime, we’d like to leave you with the following photograph we took this morning after our conversation with the Sheriff.

This is out in front of the local gas station in Brackettville, TX— the Kinney County seat. Brackettville has one gas station and two traffic lights.

You’re looking at the sock-covered foot of a woman that’s been sitting out in front of the store since late last night.

Who she is, where she comes from, and why she’s there as an individual are not why I’m sharing this photo here.

In this photo, she is anonymous. Faceless. She could be anyone. She could be everyone. She is just one of many many people that have been getting dropped off there daily— captured, arrested, and probably accused of smuggling illegal aliens, their cars are impounded and they are dropped off.

There’s no room for them in the Kinney County Jail. It has 14 beds. She is a US Citizen, and cannot be locked up at the Briscoe Unit in Dilley, where illegal aliens arrested by Texas are being housed. So, she is dropped off, and friends and family are called to come pick her up. She will more than likely have to return at some point in the future to face criminal charges for trafficking.

One presumes in this case, she has taken her shoes off for comfort.

That’s all for now. Until next time, dare to love yourselves. It is important to love one another— to behave with charity toward all who are needful, of course, but one must also be capable of a fierce, but fair form of self-love too.

Never mortgage your person and needs in permanent favor of others. We all have a duty to ourselves, and it is in fulfilling that duty that we become most able to provide true and lasting aid. To put it another way— take care of you, so that you may take care of others.