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Great Fundraising Idea: Anyone Want to Challenge United ISD's Record?

Convoy drives toward world record
By CELINA ALVARADO
LAREDO MORNING TIMES

Now there’s something you don’t see every day.

Local law enforcement agencies drove their way into the Guinness Book of World Records on Saturday, with a 98-vehicle convoy to benefit the United Independent School District Crime Stoppers program.

Participating in the event were law enforcement vehicles from the Laredo Police Department; Laredo Fire Department; Precinct 1 Constable Rudy Rodriguez’s office; Precinct 2 Constable Ruben Reyes’s office; U.S. Border Patrol, Webb County Sheriff’s Department; National Guard; Rio Bravo Police Department; El Cenizo Police Department; LISD Police Department; district attorney’s office investigators; Jim Hogg County Sheriff’s Department; and several private ambulance agencies.

Cars as far as the eye could see lined up at the 18-mile marker at the Laredo Tourist Bureau on I-35 and made their way down Del Mar Boulevard and Loop 20 to the UISD Student Activity center.

Many motorists along the way could be seen stopping at the side of the road in awe, and who could blame them?

“ This is something that has never been done before,” said Officer Ramon Salinas, UISD Campus Crime Stoppers coordinator, who helped organize the event. “Fortunately it was a success.” Salinas and several others thought of the idea earlier in the month when they realized there was no record in the Guiness books for the longest convoy.

Now, if nobody else beats the record, Laredo will go down in history for having the longest convoy go through city streets.

Each vehicle that participated in setting the new world record paid the UISD Crime Stoppers $125, which will be used to pay out rewards to tipsters.

“ We had a lot of support from our superintendent, Roberto “Bobby” Santos, UISD Board President John Bruce, and of course our chief of police, Dennis Garcia,” said Salinas. “Without these three individuals, this would have never happened.” The convoy met at the Student Activity Center for the closing ceremonies of the event. Participants were treated to food and drinks following the drive.

“ This was an excellent effort and a great example of local law enforcement working together in a united fashion,” Mayor Raul Salinas said Saturday after the event. “It’s Laredo’s finest getting together for a good cause.” UISD will send the new record to Guinness some time next week in hopes of making the record official.

(Celina Alvarado may be reached at (956) 728-2566 or by e-mail at celina@lmtonline.com) 10/29/2006

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