Border Patrol Agent Joe R. White of the Laredo North Border Patrol Station passed away early in the morning after suffering an apparent heart attack while on duty at the IH-35 checkpoint. Agent White was transported to Doctors Hospital by ambulance, but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Agent White was a seven year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol and a graduate of the 223rd session of the Border Patrol Academy. Agent White was a K-9 handler - assigned K-9 Brutus. Prior to Brutus, Agent White was the handler for Benno. Benno was one of the original K-9's assigned to the Laredo Sector. During his 3 1/2 year tenure as a K-9 handler, Agent White made 155 narcotic seizures worth $8,836,512, seized $126,800 in U.S. currency, and located 1,701 undocumented aliens.