Governor was leery of official

Herald/Review staff and wire reports

BISBEE — The governor of Sonora opposed the nomination of Agua Prieta’s slain public safety chief out of concerns that he was connected with organized crime, the Mexican state’s largest newspaper is reporting.

Gov. Eduardo Bours reportedly told the Hermosillo-based daily El Imparcial that he asked newly elected mayor Antonio Cuadras not to name Ramon Tacho Verdugo as the city’s secretary of public safety when he took office Sept. 16. Bours said he was worried about unconfirmed reports that Tacho Verdugo was involved in criminal activity.

Tacho Verdugo, 49, was shot three times by a group of unidentified gunmen as he left his office Monday afternoon. He died two hours later at a local hospital.

A U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman said criminals vying for control of lucrative smuggling routes could have targeted Tacho Verdugo.