9OYS Border Watch
"Fog of war is with us": Combat veteran talks of "friendly fire" dangers
Reporter: Marcelino Benito
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) -Officials have not released details of what happened near Naco on Tuesday morning, but all signs point to friendly fire as the cause of Agent Nicholas Ivie's death.
"There's a lot of similarities," said Dr. Richard Carmona. "You're called to an area, whether you're in military or a police officer, there are unknowns. People move. You look at this area, remote wilderness, lots of things can happen in the dark. It's tough. It's very, very tough."
He's a Senate candidate now, but few know what it's like to be enveloped by the fog of war, better than Carmona. He's an ex-combat veteran and SWAT team leader, he says agents like Nicholas Ivie step up despite the risks.
"We lost an officer out there, protecting us," Carmona said. "Irrespective of the circumstances, these are risky jobs."
Friendly fire is one of those risks, even along the border.
"In a firefight, confusing situations, it's sometimes difficult to always make perfect decisions," said Carmona. "I'm anxious to see final outcome of investigation."
The final results of the investigation could take time. The FBI and Border Patrol have not given a clear time-line. Carmona says hopefully every law enforcement agency can learn from it. For now, he wants the focus to be on the extraordinary man who lost his life in service to his country.
"Our hearts are broken that we lost an officer, and another one is wounded," Carmona said. We have to do everything we can to help the family through this very tough time."
Because it is an election year, KGUN9 reached out Carmona's opponent Congressman Jeff Flake for comment, but 9OYSs calls were not returned Friday night.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.