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U.S.
Senator Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs
Committees |
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For Immediate
Release May 25, 2005 |
CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Press Secretary 202-228-3630 Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary 303-455-7600 |
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| SEN. SALAZAR REQUESTS SW COLORADO ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY POSITION BE FILLED
DENVER, CO – United States Senator Ken Salazar asked U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to appoint a second Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) for Durango to replace current AUSA Robert Kennedy who is retiring at the end of June. “Southwestern Colorado’s law enforcement needs should not be ignored by Washington – the continued safety of the Durango area’s residents is at stake without the appointment of a replacement Assistant U.S. Attorney. The federal caseload for the Durango area is substantial and filling the position before current Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kennedy retires is critical to properly training his replacement and keeping up with the ever growing backlog,” Senator Salazar said.
Honorable Alberto Gonzales Dear Attorney General Gonzales: I am writing to request your attention with regard to a pressing personnel matter involving federal law enforcement in my home state of Colorado. As you are undoubtedly aware, our nation’s Indian reservations experience very high rates of violent crime, and often lack the resources they need to effectively address the issue from a law enforcement perspective. The Ute Mountain Ute reservation in my state of Colorado is no exception; in recent months and years, this reservation has seen multiple homicides occur, but has been unable to effectively respond due to a lack of law enforcement personnel. This problem was exacerbated by the recent announcement that the Assistant U.S. Attorney for the city of Durango, Colorado, Robert Kennedy, will retire on June 30 of this year. Furthermore, in part as a result of budget constraints, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Colorado has not moved on an announcement for a possible replacement. The one remaining Assistant U.S. Attorney in Durango will be unable to handle the immense caseload – which includes the collective caseload for the FBI, IRS, ICE, BIA and Southwest Drug Task Force – for the region. I am requesting that adequate resources be expeditiously allocated to the appropriate U.S. Attorney’s offices and that another Assistant U.S. Attorney be appointed as soon as possible so that Assistant U.S. Attorney Kennedy can train his replacement on the unique challenges faced by the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes prior to his departure. Thank you in advance for your attention to this pressing matter. Sincerely,
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