Border Patrol Agents on Leave Following Shooting Incident in Minneapolis
Two Border Patrol agents involved in the shooting death of Alex Preti in Minneapolis on Saturday have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with the agency’s firearms policies. This transfer is standard practice under U.S. Customs and Border Protection regulations, which allow for three days of leave and encourage agents to connect with the agency’s Mental Wellness Employee Assistance Program (EAP), as noted by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials.
The agency provides these employees with up to 24 hours of administrative leave aimed at addressing the immediate mental health concerns tied to using military-style weapons in stressful situations. Additionally, agents who discharge their weapons during a use-of-force incident are required to consult with an EAP clinician skilled in handling critical incidents. While agents aren’t compelled to discuss the specifics of the event, they are free to do so if they choose, according to sources.
An internal policy document titled “Use of Force – Administrative Guidelines and Procedures Handbook” details the process for placing agents on leave. It states: “If an authorized officer/agent uses deadly force against a person, whether on duty or off duty, that officer/agent shall be placed on paid administrative leave for three consecutive calendar days immediately following the incident.”
A officials who chose to remain unnamed shared with Breitbart Texas that this administrative leave shouldn’t be seen as punitive. “This is standard procedure. It doesn’t pertain specifically to this shooting. It’s just to ensure that the involved agents are doing okay after firing their weapons,” the official explained.
Administrative leave allows employees to take time off without impacting their pay or accrued paid time off. The source emphasized that this type of leave is distinct from a disciplinary suspension. “There’s still much to investigate concerning the circumstances around the shooting in Minneapolis,” the official added.
A statement shared by DHS and reported live on Fox News described the circumstances around the death of 37-year-old Alex Preti. The announcement stated that investigators were conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis related to an illegal alien suspected of violent assault. It was during this operation that a man approached a Border Patrol agent armed with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
A video that surfaced online depicts a Border Patrol agent grappling with Preti just moments before he was shot. According to the DHS statement, officers attempted to disarm Preti, who “violently resisted.”
