Constable, canine assistant praised for drug interdiction
MARK S. PHILLIPS

I would like to express the sincere gratitude of the Texas Highway Patrol for the experience, knowledge, expertise and willingness to sacrifice on the part of Constable Eddie Lee and his deputy, Ray Bouman, and canine Ronn.

Deputy Bouman and his canine, Ronn, have assisted the Texas Highway Patrol on numerous occasions, including the search of suspected bank robbers. Without their help, many criminals, illegal narcotics and currency would be on the streets of Cherokee County and throughout the United States. Deputy Bouman and Ronn respond without hesitation to scenes in which only a canine can be used to develop probable cause and apprehend fugitives.

Cherokee County is in a unique position. With two U.S. highways running through the county, many drug traffickers use these corridors to travel to their destination. U.S. Highway 79 runs from south Texas, where drugs are being carried across the border every day. U.S. Highway 69 allows a major corridor to Interstate 20 from Interstate 10 in the Beaumont and the Houston areas.

Law enforcement has the duty to ensure every citizen is guaranteed their constitutional rights. Those rights include being free from crime. To ensure an illegal search is not conducted, a canine can detect things from 100 to one million times more than the human nose.

Having the ability to call a canine to assist in developing probable cause and finding illegal contraband allows us the opportunity to apprehend felons as they are committing a crime. With the help of Deputy Bouman and Ronn, Cherokee County is being recognized as a county that stops crime.

Deputy Bouman and Ronn are assets to the county and create a working environment that makes the county, the State of Texas, and our great nation a safer place.

Criminals are being apprehended in our hometown because of great law enforcement work by Constable Eddie Lee, Deputy Ray Bouman, and Ronn. I can not express the gratitude we have for their efforts in deterring crime.

Mr. Phillips is a sergeant with the Texas Department of Public Safety in Jacksonville.