by Ana Maria Ruiz-Brown, Staff Writer-Translator
A special unit of the Mexican national police (PGR) arrested Juárez federal police (PJF) commander Gabriel Salazar Córdova and his assistant Rodrigo Bustillos, a medical doctor, June 27. Salazar had only been Juárez PJF border commander for one month.
Salazar and Bustillos are being charged with extortion, bribery, concealing illegal weapons, and smuggling stolen merchandise. Edgar I. Ramírez, a Calvary Lieutenant of the Mexican Army and second-in-command at the Juárez PJF, was responsible for reporting Salazar and Bustillos to the PGR. Ramírez alleged in court that Salazar offered a cash bribe to him of over $4,000 U.S., in both dollars and pesos, which Ramírez kept as evidence and showed the judge. Later, Bustillos offered a similar bribe for Ramírez's silence. When Ramírez rejected his bribe, Bustillos threatened him. Ramírez claimed that the pair were extorting money from truck drivers--2,500 pesos for semi-trailers and 700 pesos for trucks, and trafficking high-retail merchandise, such as computers and electronic equipment.
The defense claimed that Salazar and Bustillos were held incommunicado for ten hours and confessed their guilt only because of psychological pressure.
PGR spokesman Luis Carlos Velazco denied the arrest had anything to do with drug trafficking. He said the PJF commander and his assistant "had violated professional and ethical codes of conduct."
Source: Diario de Juarez
by Ana Maria Ruiz-Brown, Staff Writer-Translator
In a controversial move, Juárez Mayor Ramón Galindo and municipal authorities rented a helicopter from a Houston, Texas, company which he said would be used by police officers to patrol the city. The rental cost of the Bell 26 Jet Ranger is $750 U.S. per hour, with a minimum use of two hours daily required, according to reports in the Diario de Juárez, June 30 and July 2.
Private businessmen and Juárez citizens were critical of the decision. Front-page headlines in El Norte announced the cost of the helicopter would be $270,000 U.S. over six months. Galindo said the bill would be paid with funds from the Municipal Treasury, large Juárez corporations, and "altruistic" donors from El Paso.
Canaco, Copermex, and Canacintra corporations were quick to support the mayor. The Maquiladora Association pointed out the helicopter would be useful for emergencies and general security. By July 4, Galindo seemed to have the consensus to keep the helicopter--the only question seemed to be whether the city would continue to rent the helicopter or buy it outright for $600,000 U.S.
The first of seven test flights in the five-seat helicopter began July 4, with representatives from supporting Juárez and El Paso corporations invited to participate. Galindo announced the establishment of a six-month contract on July 16, and said 20 Juárez police officers would be selected for flight training to be conducted in Dallas, Texas. "Aerocopter de Chihuahua" was the company that officially signed the contract, but 70 percent of the funding is expected to be provided by industry, banking institutions, and maquila corporations, according to Diario de Juárez. The municipal government will contribute the other 30 percent.
As of late July, Galindo and municipal authorities were still considering the outright purchase of the helicopter, which El Norte was now estimating at $1 to 1.5 million U.S. "We are very optimistic," said Galindo. "The helicopter can help to combat crime in great measure."
Sources: Diario de Juárez, El Norte de Ciudad Juárez
The subdirector of the Juárez city police, Armando Castañeda, said the force does not have enough officers to adequately patrol the city. Based on an ideal ratio of one officer for every 400 citizens, the police would need 3,000 more officers--2,000 at the least, according to Castañeda.
The subdirector said the Juárez police are facing several problems in developing a larger force. First of all, there are not enough people interested in becoming police officers. Then, of the applicants who do attend the Municipal Police Academy, only 45 or 50 aspirants out of 400 can pass the physical fitness requirements. Finally, the city simply lacks the financial resources to support a larger police force.
The Deputy of Justice in the Northern Zone, Jorge López Molinar, expressed concern that the number of city police is simply not keeping up with the fast growth in population. "The world is changing, and Juárez is not the same as it was years ago. I remember when my family, back in the fifties, slept with the door open without any fear, but that's not possible now." López supported Castañeda's call for more officers, but noted that if such an increase is not possible, the people of Juárez will have to learn to take extra preventative measures to combat crime.
Source: Diario de Juárez