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Hostage situations and gunfire are all situations Sheriff Deputies might see if the county is faced with spillover violence from Mexico.
 
Wednesday they learned the right and wrong to handle a potentially dangerous situation.
 
“They have to be extra aware of the situation they’re put in,” said Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino. 

Hidalgo County is 1600 square miles and 78 of those miles are along the Mexico border, which means deputies need to be prepared for whatever might come their way.

“One of the things that propped me to bring this training down was all of the horrific violence happening Mexico,” said Sheriff Trevino. “We’re very close to it and there is a distinct possibility we could experience a spillover type event.”

Instructor David Burns said dealing with border violence is different than the day to day calls a deputy might respond too.

“Working down on the border has a lot of different challenges that aren’t typical of law enforcement officers being trained in,” said Burns. “That’s why its important officers get this training.”

Burns said in a ‘normal’ situation a deputy would be attached to a vehicle when dealing with the border that does not always happen.

“Obviously there are many places along the border were spillover violence can occur and their vehicles might not be readily available to them,” said Burns.