BROWNSVILLE – A Brownsville police officer accused of smuggling people into the U.S. illegally is back on the job.

Officer Valerie Rivas is back on patrol for the first time in five months following her acquittal in a human smuggling case.

According to court documents, Rivas was apprehended by Border patrol agents north of the Padre Island National Shoreline while responding to human smuggling activity.

KRGV’s Daisy Martinez reached out to the Brownsville Police Department.  A spokesperson says she’s back on the department since she proved her innocence in court.

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