Sheriff sent a message to Joseph H. Boardman - CEO, Amtrak - Email Address that said:
Mr. Boardman
I regret, that I must contact you on this matter. I am the county sheriff in Terrell County, Texas. This morning an Amtrak dispatcher contacted my office to send and ambulance to check on a passenger. We sent our EMS, and my Sgt. Bencomo went with them. The crew wanted this passenger removed from the train for being drunk, This passenger had been asleep under Texas law public intoxication is when this person is a danger to himself or others. We do not make it practice to drag a person off a train to file on them. Once the deputy told the crew this they became upset that we would not violate this persons rights and remove him from the train. I have a county of 984 people and I would have had to take this passenger at least a 120 mile trip to get to public transportation. The crew told my deputy they would be filing on him with the FBI. I got a call from chief Mike Tucker with UPPD out of San Antonio, Tx. and said that that case to the FBI would have to go though his office. I saddens me that my deputy was treated this way. Had this passenger been a treat to anyone on that train we would have taken action. I that point we would have still needed statements from the crew and a complaint filed. I have been in contact with Mr. Tucker with UPPD, the FBI office in San Antonio, our County Judge and our County Attorney. My deputy should not have to live in fear of retaliation for doing his job by the law.
Thank you
God Bless
Sheriff
