Comments on: Bandits stick up police station, make off with firearms

By: Riteve Pickup & Delivery Service Gaunacaste

Riteve Pickup & Delivery Service Gaunacaste — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 01:19:02 +0000

Playa Del Coco. But I guess many towns in Costa Rica.

By: Jacki Styles

Jacki Styles — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 10:33:48 +0000

The cameras would just get stolen…

By: Chili Tabasco

Chili Tabasco — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:18:41 +0000

LOL! It’s still a lot better living in Costa Rica than in the U.S. Police State. Here the crooks may be smarter than the cops, but we still have the Civil Liberties that were lost in the U.S. during the Bush years.

By: R.j. Broderick

R.j. Broderick — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 20:48:42 +0000

Ralph, and you complain about the USA!!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:03:34 +0000

Ok, we have all had our fun here lambasting the CR police. Now, let us speak of reality and consider what we are really dealing with here. The status and state of readiness of the CR police is well known and has already been correctly presented by a previous commenter. The question is whether anything is likely to be done about it or is this just the way it will remain with the CR police?
Well, let us have a look around a neighboring countries in Central and South America and discuss the best practices we find. Hmm…in Brazil they…, no they take a bribe very quickly there so let us move on. In Honduras they solve murders of news reporters at a rate of…, nope, better not use that example, as they solve almost none. In Venezuela, crimes such as rape are…, better not mention that as the rapped women are usually harassed and called prostitutes by the police. In Colombia’s second city of Medellian the police have, well this is not a good example as it seems the police have been on the take of the paramilitary drug groups and have currently lost control of several sectors of the city and thus the military has moved in to take control. It seems like every country down here has a miserable record in the area of police work. I guess that about sums up the look at best practices that CR may want to consider emulating into its own police department.
All right, now that we have highlighted the best practices of the Latin America countries it is clear that if things are going to improve they will have to carry their own water here in CR. Let us try this, how about if we, just to see what would happen, imagine the CR police all of a sudden had all the money they needed to pay excellent salaries to their officers, they were given the best of equipment, and we trained them for two years in every aspect of policing from traffic to murder investigation. Let us see a show of hands as to who thinks they would become an outstanding, professional, police force? Anybody? Somebody? Nobody?
Likely, the last answer is the right one; nobody thinks the police force would drastically improve with money and training. But why? Why would money and training alone not solve the problems our CR police have? You see, we are humans, we are not machines, and that includes the CR police officers from the new officer on the beat to the chief of police. Moreover, it is almost impossible for us humans to compartmentalize our lives into two or more distinct cultures. When CR police come to the force they come with a laid back, anything goes, take the easy road, mentality. In addition, when they go home at night, they return to this lifestyle. However, when they are working as CR police officers we expect them to be all about law and order, strict, by the book, above board, hardworking, professional, and honest. Do you think our CR police officers will be able to pull of this duality in in human behavior? Well, before you do any soul searching for the answer let me assist you by telling you the chances are zero.
There you have it folks, we love CR and other Latin countries for their laid-back culture. Unfortunately, along with this culture comes a laid-back police department as well. The evidence of this is universally present throughout the Latin American police. Unprofessional, corrupt, lazy, laid back, disinterested, and the list goes on when it comes to adjectives describing our CR police. You see, all the traits that make it fun to be a part of this sometimes crazy culture here in CR, make for a dysfunctional police department. Your life and time here in CR will be better if you can find a way to live with the current state of policing in CR, protect yourself as best you can, and enjoy the best parts of the CR culture that we all know and love. Pura vida!

By: Mike Mcginnis

Mike Mcginnis — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:48:36 +0000

Description… what good will that do? With a 3% conviction rate even if they catch the guys they most likely won’t go to jail for it. Casa por Carcel… gotta love it.

By: Mike Mcginnis

Mike Mcginnis — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:33:37 +0000

“Juan Carlos Arias, sub director of San Jose Fuerza Publica, stated that the robbery occurred because the officers in charge let their guard down.” lol… When was their guard ever up? They were sitting in there either talking on the phone to their girlfriend or texting.

By: Mike Mcginnis

Mike Mcginnis — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:33:36 +0000

so true…

By: Gordon Lindley

Gordon Lindley — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:18:34 +0000

Stinks to high heavens above. INSIDE JOB! I bet taking this so called policeman victim he knows a lot more than he telling now. I would sweat him till he squealed which would take 3 minutes to do so. But hey we are in CR and the Costarrecenses will say poor policeman. Just their way of life here. I do not think more pay will ever solve the problem. They get around $700 to $850 per month average salary. They need a thousand prison spaces around the country and hundreds of holding areas to begin with and Judges with a spine!

By: Chili Tabasco

Chili Tabasco — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:48:38 +0000

Laura’s legacy of hiring police that don’t have at least a 6th grade education has done more harm to the public than good. We know she likes the shiny boots, but it would be nice if the public servants were at least as smart as the crooks.