Health Officials Shut Down Police Station In
Northern Zone For Poor Sanitary Conditions
The officers of the Fuerza Pública (police)
of the distrito Pavón, Los Chiles, in the
northern Zone, have to work from the street
as the ministerio de Salud (Health ministry) has shut down
their station for unhygienic conditions. The
post located near the Nicaraguan border is a
strategic control point against the movement
of illegals, drugs and contraband.
The Ministerio de Salud said that the septic
tank serving the command post was in the
worst of conditions, overflowing fecal
matter on a daily basis.
The seven police officers of Pavón had been
complaining of the foul odor and the sewage
that daily flowed into the rooms of the
station.
The ministerio de Salud is recommending the
construction of a new septic tank in the
order that gives the Ministerio de Seguridad
Pública five days to correct the problem.
Captain Alexis Núñez, chief of the Los
Chiles region, assured that police patrols
will continue without interruption and
security in the area will be maintained.
The officers of Pavón will be working out of
the San José del Amparo station in the
meantime.
Residents of the Pavón are concerned that
the temporary closing will provoke more
robberies and assaults, calling the Salud
decision "unwise".
In addition to the problems with the
station, many of the patrol units are also
in a poor state of repair.
The Pavón area is home to some 4.000 and a
point of transit by many foreigners coming
to or leaving Costa Rica.
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More Stations Could Be Closed
In addition to the Pavón station, there are a number of other police stations that could be shut down by the ministerio de Salud, that include stations in Santa Rosa de Pocosol, San Carlos and Jocote, all having problems with hygene conditions. In some cases, police officers have to collect rain water for use in the station, as there is no running water, and use outdoor fiels for their necessities. |
