Residents Confuse Oswego (Illinois) Police and Fire with Oswego (New York) Authorities in Border Patrol Incident
Village of Oswego Police and Fire, which are in Illinois, released statements on Facebook this week clarifying confusion about a U.S. Border Patrol incident that happened in Oswego, New York.
On Wednesday, an online video showed police and fire authorities in Oswego, New York, allegedly assisting Border Patrol in a standoff with two men on the roof of a home. The standoff lasted six hours.
Oswego Fire posted a clarification on Facebook, saying that a U.S. Border Patrol incident in Oswego, New York, did not occur in Oswego, Illinois. (stock photo)
On Thursday, Oswego Police said in a Facebook statement that “we are aware of a video circulating on social media involving another police department with the same name as ours in another state. We would like to clarify, the video does not involve the Oswego Police Department in Illinois.”
As of Friday morning, the Facebook post received over 300 reactions, 28 comments and has been shared over 20 times.
In a Facebook update on Friday afternoon, Oswego police listed several actions that they are prohibited from doing under Illinois law.
Oswego Fire Chief Joshua Flanders released a similar statement this week, saying, “…I was made aware of a video circulating online depicting members of the Oswego Police and Oswego Fire Departments assisting ICE agents. I want to make it very clear that this incident occurred in Oswego, New York — not Oswego, Illinois.”
Chief Flanders said OFPD received numerous phone calls, e-mails, and people stopping by the firehouses regarding the video. “Our personnel had absolutely no involvement in this incident,” said Chief Flanders.
As of Friday morning, that Facebook post received almost 900 reactions, 60 comments, and over 100 shares.
Chief Flanders continued, “I respectfully ask that the members of this department not be attacked, criticized, or contacted regarding an incident that did not occur here and that they had no involvement in.”
