Fuerza Pública
Needs To Better Recruit Officers, Says
Director
In less than six months some 120 police
officers have been linked to serious crimes,
including the sale of drugs, assaults,
illegal confiscations and murders.
Most of the police officers of the Fuerza
Pública linked to criminal acts are
currently under suspension, but are still
drawing a salary. The others have been
transferred to administrative (desk) duties,
while being investigated.
According to a report by the Ministerio de
Seguridad Pública and the Fiscalía, the
officials accused with the more serious
crimes were working in Heredia, Limón, San
José and Puntarenas.
Francisco López, head of Recursos Humanos
(Human Resources) de Seguridad Pública, said
that the majority of the officers had 10
years or more of service and without a
blemish on their records.
In contrast to the past, where a simple
firing was the action taken by police
authorities, many of the officers today face
criminal charges.
López commented that in the last five years,
580 officers have been terminated for acts
of corruption.
The crimes committed by police officers have
gotten more serious than in the past, where
taking a bribe was the common reason for the
firings.
Today, however, officers are accused of
charging for services, stealing evidence,
especially when it comes to drugs and
firearms and taking to the streets to sell
drugs.
In Guápiles de Pococí, the Seguridad Pública
report notes that five officers were found
to be recruiting addicts to break into local
stores and businesses.
In Golfito, three officers were recently
charged with being part of a gang that
raided and stole 320 kilos of cocaine from
the Fiscalia last March.
Éric Lacayo, director of the Fuerza Pública,
blames the recruitment and training process.
Lacayo says that officers have to have
vocation, as well as strong moral and
ethical principles, an area of the
recruiting and training that needs beefing
up.
The director added that many officers face
had economic situations, but that is no
reason for falling into corruption.
As part of the recruiting program, Lacayo
said that each applicant will check up on
the "life and customs" of each applicant, to
choose those that really want to be police
officials. "We don't want someone who just
is looking to make a wage", said Lacayo.
|
