US town along Mexican border abolishes police force in latest fallout from gun s

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US town along Mexican border abolishes police force in latest fallout from gun

smuggling probe

By The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – 24 minutes ago

DEMING, N.M. - A U.S. town on the Mexican border has abolished its police

department in the wake of a gun smuggling case that involves the former mayor

and police chief.

The village of Columbus, New Mexico will now rely on the Luna County Sheriff's

Office for law enforcement. Sheriff Cobos tells the Deming Headlight

that his deputies have always patrolled the area anyway and he'll shift

resources to cover the village.

The village Board of Trustees voted to abolish the department on July 7.

The next day, jailed former trustee Blas Guitierrez submitted his letter of

resignation.

He is one of 12 people who were arrested in March for their alleged roles in a

gun smuggling ring. Former Mayor Eddie Espinoza and former police chief Angelo

Vega are among those charged.