The Devils Highway - Luis Alberto Urrea [91]
Wellton’s supervisory agent, Kenneth Smith, a thirty-year veteran, was my Yoda as I tried to penetrate their world. I think of the hours we spent with gratitude. Ken was a boon companion, and he helped put a human face on the Border Patrol.
Agent Jerome Wofford worked the computers and showed me the death scene photos and analyzed what the death-sign meant. Yuma’s Mike McGlasson was the exemplary information officer and good Marine. He opened the doors for me. I wouldn’t want to be a Coyote with Mike on my trail. Mike’s harem of news-women was also a delight to work with. Officer Friendly gave me a bunch of shit, and it was a great help in getting the feel of the station. He suggests that the proper title for this book is Coyote Bait. Miss Anne, in Wellton Station, was kind.
I must thank Jason Carroll, of BORSTAR, for excellent informative sessions. By phone and e-mail, Jason helped me decipher arcana—including the finer points of drinking urine. Tucson sector was tougher to enter than Yuma. Agent Ryan Scudder is greatly admired by the Mexican consuls, and he was helpful. Information officer Rob Daniels was informative. And in Washington, D.C., Mario Villareal was the master of the brush-out.
Former BP agent Warrior offered generous thoughts and prayers late in the game.
The Border Patrol’s PowerPoint presentation of “Operation Broken Promise” was a valuable tool.
King of the Cactus Cops, Steve Ganitsch, was a great blessing. There were moments when other law enforcement agents were so astounded that Ganitsch was my friend that they gave up secrets immediately.
Chuck Bowden, as always, was helpful and generous; a boon companion and a walking encyclopedia of border and desert lore.
Rick Ufford-Chase and the Samaritan Patrols based in Tucson were extremely helpful and open. I learned much from them, and I admire their example.
Dr. Ralph Cintron, at University of Illinois at Chicago, sent me valuable research materials. César A. González, at San Diego Mesa College, was as always a mentor and provider of valuable articles and insights. At UIC, graduate student JoAnne Ruvoli-Gruba provided me with materials about BORSTAR and some Border Patrol history. San Diego PD’s Great Dispatcher, Kyle Wiggins, helped out. Natalie Sudman introduced me to the Cactus Cop, and without her intervention, all the subsequent doors might not have opened. Thanks to my colleagues on the advisory board of the Paso Al Norte Immigration Museum of El Paso, Texas.
Tony Delcavo, of Bella Luna Books, caught my single greatest typo: I apparently uncovered a “vast conspiracy of snuggling.” It would be a different border if that were true.
Stewart O’Nan, as always, was the world’s best sounding board: his insights into narrative choices and editing were invaluable.
My unbelievable editor, Geoff Shandler, found the heart of this book. And everyone at the Dijkstra Agency makes it possible for me to go into battle.
Thanks to Rich Hopkins and the mighty Sidewinders.
Finally, thanks to the members of the band Calexico—their song “Across the Wire” appeared unexpectedly and lent moral support when it was deeply needed.
The news publications accessed in this project were: The Arizona Daily Star, the Arizona Republic, the Chicago Tribune, the Denver Post, the El Paso Times, Global News Wire/EFE News Service, La Jornada, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Newsday, La Opinión, Outside magazine, Range magazine, Salon.com, the San Diego Reader, the San Diego Union Tribune, the Tucson Citizen, the Tucson Weekly, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Zeta. Ray Rojas’s Internet news service