Police
Corruption Leaves Feeling of Insecurity
Costa Ricans are mistrusting of their police
and for good reason, as more cases of police
officials tied to acts of corruption and
crimes, like the case of the 12 Fueza
Pública officials detained on Wednesday,
come to light.
Many blame the lack of training and
education police officers who are
responsible for the security and well being
of citizens.
The feeling of insecurity was heightened
yesterday when a judge allowed the 12
arrested police officers free.
Each of the 12 have been suspended from
their jobs pending the conclusion of the
investigation against them for accepting
payment from criminals to look the other
way.
The dozen officers also had "medidas
cautelares" (conditions of liberty) placed
on them, which includes not being able to
leave the country and sign in at the court
office regularly.
However, the problem of police corruption
does not end there. The Organismo de
Investigacion Judicial (OIJ) has its sights
on 70 more police officers of the same unit.
OIJ director, Jorge Rojas, said on Wednesday
that not all those under investigation were
detained so as not to produce total chaos in
the Minsiterio Público, choosing to detain,
for the time being, only those at the top of
the corruption scheme.
Janina del Vecchio, the ministra de
Seguridad Pública, assures that an
administrative process has been commenced
against the 12 that could end with the
firing of the police officers and losing
their seniority and severance pay.
The ministra also said that an internal
investigation is ongoing throughout the
country of all police units and commands to
detect similar cases.
Del Vecchio said that her ministry has a
"zero tolerance" policy against police
corruption and would be increasing training
and education programs for police officers.
"The daily supervision of commanders is the
key to know what each police officials is
up", said the ministra.
With the arrest of the 12 on Wednesday, the
total number of police officers arrested
this year for corruption is now at 36.
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