MEXICO: Up to 3,200 federal police officers which constitute 10 percent of Mexico's total force sacked for corruption

Record ID: 304119

  • Title: MEXICO: Up to 3,200 federal police officers which constitute 10 percent of Mexico's total force sacked for corruption
  • Date: 31st August 2010
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (AUGUST 30, 2010) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FEDERAL POLICE BUILDING OFFICES FEDERAL POLICE LOGO GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICO'S FEDERAL POLICE CHIEF, FACUNDO ROSAS, SAYING: "For not meeting duties established in the federal police law, 3,200 policemen were fired in a first stage, settled by the federal council of police development. This was carried out in line with the national public security general law, stemming from the publication of the federal police law. The second stage includes the start of the disciplinary procedure against another 1,020 officers, for non-fulfillment of requirements to stay, specifically for not having passed the confidence control exams." MORE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICO'S FEDERAL POLICE CHIEF, FACUNDO ROSAS, SAYING: "The task of purging has begun with no set date for its conclusion. It's a permanent task. Let us remember that all police forces in the world, in particular those which have been operating for many years enjoy from high confidence on behalf of citizens. They have mechanisms that allow them to be looking through its personnel in a permanent way." PHOTOGRAPHER ROSAS LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 15th September 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVAT81NN4PORQJRN9RN6A4SCCKQ
  • Story Text: Mexican authorities have fired 10 percent of the federal police on corruption charges as President Felipe Calderon seeks to strengthen security and battle powerful drug cartels.
    "For not meeting duties established in the federal police law, 3,200 policemen were fired in a first stage, settled by the federal council of police development. This was carried out in line with the national public security general law, stemming from the publication of the federal police law. The second stage includes the start of the disciplinary procedure against another 1,020 officers, for non-fulfillment of requirements to stay, specifically for not having passed the confidence control exams," said deputy police chief Facundo Rosas in a press conference on Monday (August 30).
    "The task of purging has begun with no set date for its conclusion. It's a permanent task. Let us remember that all police forces in the world, in particular those which have been operating for many years enjoy from high confidence on behalf of citizens. They have mechanisms that allow them to be looking through its personnel in a permanent way," added Rosas.
    Another 465 policemen, including a Ciudad Juarez chief that was turned in by his own staff on corruption charges, will be ceased too.
    A car bomb killed four people in this city across from El Paso Texas last month, the first attack of its kind since Calderon took office.
    The military has taken control of multiple cities in northern Mexico after local police forces there, many of which are believed to work for drug smugglers, failed to stop the escalating violence.
    More than 28,000 people have died in drug violence since Calderon launched his war on drugs nearly four years ago, prompting fears that bloodshed could undermine tourism and investment as Mexico slowly recovers from its worst recession since 1932.
    Suspected drug hitmen killed the mayor of a small town in northern Mexico during the weekend in a region where two car bombs exploded last week and the bodies of 72 murdered migrant workers were found.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register