SOMERTON MAYOR DEFENDS POLICE DEPARTMENT AFTER COP'S DRUG ARREST

SOMERTON (AP)- The mayor of this southwestern Arizona city defended the
police department Monday after an officer was arrested for allegedly trying
to sneak a quarter-ton of marijuana across the border.

"I think one person's actions don't speak for the whole department," Mayor
Augustin Tumbaga said. "We have a lot of officers who have been here a long
time and really care about this community."

Officer Efrain Trigueras, 26, of San Luis, and a passenger were arrested at
the San Luis port of entry, said Roger Maier, a spokesman for U.S. Customs
in Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas.

There was 554 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the Volkswagen Jetta,
Maier said.

Tumbaga said no matter how hard the police department checks the backgrounds
of potential officers, "You just don't know."

Police Chief Terry Hollis said Trigueras passed all background checks and
had done his job well since he was hired in April 1999. He said Trigueras
previously worked as a Cocopah tribal police officer.

Trigueras and Humberto Tiscareno, 26, made their initial court appearances
on Sunday. Both were charged with importation of a controlled substance.