Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
The Starr County Sheriff Department is spearheading a new initiative in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security – a Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Team (BTAM), and South Texas College Campus Administrator Arturo Montiel, Ph.D. has been recruited to help in this crime prevention effort.
Through this opportunity, Montiel is working closely with local entities such as local law enforcement, the Department of Public Safety, the cities of Rio Grande City, Roma and La Grulla, local school districts and the Starr County District Attorney’s Office.
The team’s efforts are centered around early identification, assessment and intervention for individuals exhibiting concerning behaviors.
“I was invited by the Sheriff Department to be a higher education representative on the team. It’s a true honor,” said Montiel. “I felt it was important to get involved because campus safety is STC’s No. 1 priority, so that we can continue to provide a safe and healthy learning and working environment.”
The initiative is focused on identifying and addressing potential threats of violence before they escalate and aims to connect individuals in need of assistance with appropriate mental health services and resources.
One key area of concern for the BTAM team is the prevention of targeted violence on school and college campuses within Starr County.
“South Texas College and our local school districts’ involvement ensures that educational institutions are also integrated into the threat assessment process, creating a comprehensive safety net for students and staff,” said Starr County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Ismael Guerra III. “This collaborative approach reflects a commitment to proactive prevention and intervention. By working together, these entities aim to identify and address potential threats before they worsen, ensuring a safer and more secure community for all residents of Starr County.”
To ensure the team is trained in identifying and addressing behavioral issues, the Starr County Sheriff’s Department and Texas Department of Public Safety hold regular trainings to enhance their ability to assess and manage threats effectively.
The most recent training was hosted by STC’s Starr County Campus and Montiel said the training involved resource sharing and communication among team members, both key strategies in making this initiative a success.
“For this BTAM team to be effective we need to connect the dots and learn from each other,” he said. “This training opened our eyes to sharing information among agencies and everyone involved throughout the county, while still maintaining privacy and confidentiality. I’m glad this is happening…it’s something we’ve needed for a long time.”
Rose Benavidez, STC trustee and president of the Starr County Industrial Foundation, said this endeavor has had great response from county and community leaders and will help promote safety and trust among county residents.
“This is an example of our proactive approach to community collaboration to help solve and prevent problems,” said Benavidez. “Key county leaders are making this happen, and as an STC trustee, I know it’s important that the college have representation on this committee, so to have our very own Dr. Montiel as an active member, we are all coming together to protect and continue to serve our schools, colleges and community.”
Montiel reiterates that his priority is student safety.
“I recognize the responsibility at hand and I’m 100% committed to the efforts of this noble task force,” he said. “Our next steps are to fully organize teams and team leads, with the goal of meeting twice a month, so when the time comes to enforce what we’ve learned, we’re ready.”
