BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY SHERIFF MATTHEW A. MYERS REAPPOINTED
NATIONAL SHERIFF’S ASSOCIATION DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE AND
THE HOMELAND SECURITY/GLOBAL POLICING AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers has been asked, by the National Sheriff’s Association, to serve on the following committees for the 2021-2022 term:
Drug Enforcement Committee
Homeland Security/Global Policing Affairs
“America’s Sheriffs play a critical role in keeping drugs out of our communities and keeping our communities safe”, said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers. “I am honored to accept reappointments to the NSA’s Drug Enforcement and the Homeland Security Committees.
The Homeland Security Committee looks at homeland security issues from a cyber, intelligence, and border security standpoint.
This Committee welcomes speakers from various offices within the Department of Homeland Security including, FBI, Intelligence and Analysis, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, among many others. This Committee occasionally works in conjunction with the Border Security Committee.
Sheriff Vernon Stanforth, President of the National Sheriff’s Association said: “It is my pleasure to reappoint Sheriff’s Myers to the National Sheriffs’ Association’s Drug Enforcement Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. Sheriff Myers has demonstrated his leadership while serving on these two vitally important committees.
“During these challenging and difficult times, our nation’s leaders are seeking advice and counsel from America’s Sheriffs and Sheriff Myers is front in center on those discussions”, said Stephen P. Luce, Executive Director of the Indiana Sheriff’s Association.
“It is my honor and a privilege to have been reappointed to two National Sheriff Association committees: The Homeland Security Committee and the Drug Enforcement Committee”, said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers.
In September, 2019, Sheriff Myers joined other members of the Indiana Sheriff’s Association in attending the Southwest Border Sheriff’s Coalition Annual Fall Conference with the Texas Border Sheriffs in Tucson, AZ.
The trip focused on the education and training topics to understand the seriousness of the Border issues the Sheriffs of America face in this region. The ISA attendees also met with several Sheriffs and U. S. Border Patrol Sector Chiefs and Chief Carla Provost USBP.
The Sheriffs were briefed by the Chief of the United States Border Patrol about the apprehension numbers, the conflicting reports of children being separated from their families, fraudulent families were explained, and how these children are being exploited by cartels. In addition, the impact this has on all borders in the southwest, the Border Patrol, and the lack of support from Congress regarding funding.
The Sheriffs from Indiana being briefed by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigators on how they are protecting their southern border. The Sheriffs were then given a 10-hour inspection tour of the border for over 40 miles. This included speaking with a rancher who borders Mexico and being able to personally inspect the constructed barrier from Nogales to an area west, which had no barriers separating Mexico and the USA. At that time, that location estimated 20-50 illegal immigrants crossing into the USA daily.
It was learned that these illegal immigrants are completely controlled by the cartels, which were described as a corporate business. Each immigrant is charged by the cartel $6,000 and given only three attempts to enter into the USA. If these three attempts are unsuccessful, they are then charged $6,000 again. In addition to the human trafficking, there is a large amount of marijuana being smuggled into the USA on a daily basis.
This unique experience of touring the U.S. and Mexico border for the Indiana Sheriffs educated them more on the importance of border security as it effects public safety, national security, and human rights.
Sheriff Myers also spoke at the White House about the effects of drug on the mid-west