20% of Police Force Over 50
It seems that age is no criteria for being a cop. In once case in Guápiles, Pococí, 72 year old Vicente Álvarez Arias, shows up for duty every day. And in Liberia, Guanacaste, 62 year old Fuerza Pública official Claudio Díaz, who is also a diabetic and back problems and can't stand for long period of time or walk much, is manning the post.

At the central offices of the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública, in San José, Luis Emilio Zamora Jiménez, at 69 years of age, complains that he is getting too old for the job and that he now times easily.

These are not isolated cases. Like these three offices, an estimated 20% of the officers of the Fuerza Pública, who daily go about their duties, are over the age of 50. However, the age of delinquents is getting younger daily.

Officials say that the age of those committing crimes in country is between 18 and 35, while in areas known for violence and conflict, like areas of Pavas and El Carpio in San José, the average age of criminals is between 15 and 17.

The Fuerza Pública counts with 8.500 officers, of which 1.700 officials are over the age of 50 and experts say that at that age they are not suitable for police work, work that is stressful and requires physical strength.

The age factor also contributes to a shortage of manpower as many of the older officers take time off work for illness, more than the younger officers, and that leaves some streets unprotected.

In actuality, the streets are daily protected by only 2.765 police officers for a population of 4.2 million. In other words, there is one police officer for every 1.518 residents. And that number does not take into account the hundreds of thousands more that in Costa Rica on a daily basis, either as tourists or living illegally, and not part of the official population figures.

Experts say that an official over the age of 55 who is not in good physical condition is not able to effectively do his job. The situation is more critical for those officials over the age of 60, who according to officials, do not exercise regularly or are in a program to maintain their physical condition.

Gerardo Láscarez, vice-minister at Seguridad Pública says that the "useful" life of a police official is 20 years and best suited for those between thea ages of 19 and 39. Officials over that age can then move to other functions like become trainers or less stressful jobs, like it is done in the United States.

Ex-OIJ agent Gerardo Castaing warns that a person over the 60 is adapt to provide police functions of security. "The person will always be at a disadvantage in the face of younger criminals", said Castaing.

"A member of the Fuerza Pública who trains on a regular basis and keeps to a balanced diet can work until the age of 55, however, in out country, this is very difficult and very seldom occurs", added Castaing.

Seguridad Minister, Bernando Berrocal, said he is studying the possibility of moving the "older" officers to internal jobs within the ministry, to work in Internal Security, and off the streets. "There are younger officers that can be more effective on the streets where the people are asking for more police presence", said Berrocal as he studies the situation in his first months on the job.