Monday, July 14, 2008-  Thomason Hospital has once again lowered the facilities security level to low, two days after raising the security level to maximum.  Hospital officials felt is was necessary to increase security after another police officer from Mexico was transported to Thomason on Friday.  Thomason officials would not say whether the security level was lowered because the officer died at Thomason or was released.

El Paso County Commissioner Veronica Escobar says she has a lot of questions about the number of Mexican police officials being brought to Thomason for treatment.

"I am just curious about whether folks are being funneled to Thomason and whether there is an arraignment that's made much higher than mine, much higher than Jim Valenti's, much higher than the Thomason board of managers."  says Escobar.

The Commissioner, who's district includes Thomason Hospital, says she believes federal law enforcement has cut some kind of deal.  She thinks hand picked people who are injured are brought to the bridge with a guarantee that they will get through.  She points to the case of the two police chiefs brought to the border from Casas Grandes, Mexico.   

"One of the officials who came in through our ports of entry arrived in an ambulance with a gunshot wound to the hand. He got to the port of entry and said 'I am need of medical attention'. CBP waived that person on through.  That person was already getting medical attention, he was in an ambulance."  says Escobar.

Escobar is correct that one of those police chiefs was treated for minor injuries and at some point, he left the hospital.  The deputy chief from Casas Grandes who was shot more than 20 times was treated for several days before finally being released. 

Escobar says Thomason officials and County Commissioners met with federal officials a few weeks ago.  She says they asked questions about why someone with a minor injury to their hand would be allowed through for medical treatment at a level one trauma center.

"The response was we're not experts to determine a medical emergency."