El Paso Water is committed to public participation and respectful dialogue and values hearing from its customers. At Wednesday’s Public Service Board meeting, every individual who wished to comment was given the opportunity to do so, regardless of whether they signed up to speak.

The individual who was arrested was not removed for expressing opinions, but for disruptive and aggressive conduct that occurred prior to the public comment portion of the meeting. Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, the disruption continued. Her actions created safety concerns for Board members and staff while the meeting was in progress.

El Paso Water remains committed to conducting public meetings in a manner that supports public participation while ensuring a safe and orderly environment for all attendees. We are grateful to law enforcement officers who acted to maintain order and allow the meeting to continue.