South Texas Sheriff’s Dept. Drug Scandals

MCALLEN, Texas (AP) — A South Texas sheriff whose territory borders Mexico is in the spotlight as his department is plagued by drug scandals.
The McAllen Monitor reports (http://bit.ly/19pwaNA) that Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino has repeatedly denied being aware of any of the irregularities, including one that involved his son.

But Trevino faces re-election in 2016. College of William and Mary government professor George Grayson says Trevino will have to be "purer than Caesar's wife" to keep up morale in his department and retain voters' trust.

One of Trevino's top commanders, Jose Padilla, was arrested Christmas Eve by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents for drug conspiracy and money laundering. Trevino says Padilla's arrest will not impact his office's daily operations.

Nine other lawmen, including Trevino's son, have been convicted on drug charges.

Information from: The Monitor, http://www.themonitor.com