SIERRA VISTA - Mayor Bob Strain of Sierra Vista, a sister city of Cananea, and Douglas Mayor Ray Borane expressed extreme concern about Wednesday's violence in Cananea.

Borane said U.S. citizens react with a knee-jerk response to violence in nearby Mexico.

"Immediately the traffic from this side of the border nearly dies," Borane said. "People become very reluctant and apprehensive about going over there, even if it takes place in Cananea."

Practically speaking, it is not that far away as it is not uncommon for people to commute daily between Douglas and Cananea, Borane said. "We want to ensure it's safe for people to go over there, and if they feel they have a problem over there, that people are protected," Borane said.

The Douglas mayor's immediate reaction to the bad news Wednesday was to contact Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mayor Antonia Cuadras.

The two towns share a portion of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Borane traveled immediately to Agua Prieta for a briefing from Cuadras, then the Agua Prieta mayor traveled to Douglas for a meeting at Borane's office.

The city government facilities in Agua Prieta are on very high alert, surrounded by police soldiers, Borane said. The same cautious attitude is taken by Douglas officials, he said.

Mayor of the border town of Douglas for 11 years, Borane maintains a close relationship with people in Mexico. Cuadros reported authorities in Cananea are still pursuing the people in the hills near Cananea, Borane said. He was escorted by armed guards, from the border to Cuadros' offices for their meeting, Borane said.

Schools in Cananea, Sierra Vista, and Radebeul, Germany, interact with one another through a sister-cities program, and Sierra Vista Mayor Bob Strain said he sent a letter of concern and best wishes to the Cananea mayor Thursday. "Beyond that, I don't know what it is, that we might have suggested to us," Strain said.

Regarding any further assistance, Strain said, "I'll admit the thought had crossed my mind, but I don't know what it would be."

With such foreign police or military issue, it is not typically the role of Sierra Vista to become involved, Assistant City Manager Mary Jacobs reiterated.

"Given the way the state runs things in Cananea, that would create an element of uncertainty," Strain said. "The state of Sonora has quite an influence in Cananea. A lot of activity that goes on. I'm not sure what the relationship between the Cananea mayor and the state might be."

In Cananea, public works such as water and sewage infrastructure are owned by the state.

"It would seem the Federales are a part of that operation already," Strain said.