Humane Society of the United States trains EPPD’s Animal Investigations Unit

The Humane Society of the United States visited the El Paso Police Department to help train its Animal Investigations Unit.

The unit was first formed last November and the unit has since been busy investigating cases throughout the city.

“My victims don’t speak, they don’t have a voice, so I do need those special, compassionate detectives within the police department that are willing to be the voice for those animals that cannot speak for themselves,” Sgt. Sandra Zamudio said.

The unit currently consists of four detectives, one patrol officer and Sgt. Zamudio.

“They have extensive experience in the investigative field, in the criminal, in the patrol operations. They have the basics to investigate any kind of criminal case. We brought the Humane Society of the United States because we want to make it better,” Sgt. Zamudio said.

The HSUS held an all-day training in for the unit and several different other agencies in El Paso. The first half focused on animal cruelty.

“Look for signs of animal cruelty, how to document animal cruelty, or how to build a case and bring it to a prosecutor that is going to lead to a conviction,” Katie Jarl, Texas Senior State Director, Humane Society of the United States.

Jarl tells ABC-7 that consists of taking photographs and gathering enough evidence.

“For instance, if they see an animal that’s skinny, they can say if they saw a skinny animal. But how do you talk to the owner, collect the complaints, take photographs and present the strongest case possible to the prosecutor so that the person responsible for the neglect of that animal is held accountable in a court of law?”

Jarl tells ABC-7 they visit cities throughout the country free of charge. She adds it’s a sign of progress for the department to have its own unit.

“Having an animal crimes unit for a city police department is something that we’re seeing happen more and more and El Paso is definitely on the front-end of this,” Jarl said.

Sgt. Zamudio says she hopes the unit takes what they’ve learned through the training to help animals in the borderland.

“Our animals here in the city they don’t have a voice, they cannot speak. Even if there’s a report made, if the case is not investigated the way it’s supposed to be, either through lack of training or because of lack of desire or compassion through an animal services official or within the police department, that animal cannot call me and say you know what, my case has not been investigated, I want to make a complaint or I have this extra evidence,” Zamudio said.

“Animal crime, the most important thing for these officers to take away, and for the public to understand is, animal crimes do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of a larger picture of criminal activity. And where you see someone who is willing and able to abuse an innocent animal, they are going to be able to turn around and do that to a child, to their partner, the family and ultimately be a danger to the community,” Jarl said.

Zamudio tells ABC-7 the police department hopes to expand the unit in the future. If you would like to report animal abuse you can call 311 or connect with investigators using tip 411.