BORDER PROBLEM: CORRUPTION CASES AMONG OFFICERS RISE

Revelations about a rising number of corruption cases in federal
law-enforcement agencies don't exactly raise confidence about the
border violence and smuggling.

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, said, "As the federal government
has increased the number of Border Patrol agents on the ground, drug
cartels are having greater difficulty smuggling drugs across the
border and have had to resort to other tactics, such as bribery and
infiltration."

It's bothersome, but not really surprising. Cartels have a lot of
money to throw around and that can be awfully tempting to a lot of
people who won't see that kind of money in a lifetime.

Another powerful incentive to cause a law officer to "turn" is the
threat of violence against the officer, family members or relatives.
The criminal element along the border has a lot of weapons at its
command and won't hesitate to use any of them.

One of the best ways to keep corruption under control is the thorough
investigation of cases and the swift prosecution and severe punishment
of those who break the law.

Between Oct. 1, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2009, the Inspector General's
Office of the Department of Homeland Security opened 72 criminal cases
alleging corruption among personnel in its agencies. It's a serious
problem and appears to be growing.

We must be able to trust in the integrity and efficiency of our border
law-enforcement personnel, particularly because it appears that border
problems, including violence and smuggling, are going to get a lot
worse before they get better.

The feds must keep the upper hand in corruption problems.