I have huge respect for anyone with the guts to work in the field of law enforcement, in the safest of places.
El Salvador is not the safest of places.
The field is not for everyone, and demands skills and abilities that people who haven’t been there rarely associate with the cops.
I have been told that law enforcement in El Salvador is fundamentally different, and I can see that. Beyond lack of resources, there are differences in philosophy and cultural expectations. There is news about lack of resources, and news complaining about lack of convictions. From what I read you would think the PNC was falling apart, due to a mix of incompetence, lack of training, lack of resources, lack of motivation and corruption.
Salvadoran Cop Car
I have had limited interaction with, or even opportunities to really look at cops here.
The few I have had were not what I expected.
The one time I called for help locating a missing friend the investigator came across as attentive, competent and was proactive in getting things off the ground even faster than I wanted.
On traffic stops (I take an interest in these things) and searches cops have been crisp and professional. This week I was walking by a house and saw officers speaking with a man who looked distraught. I have no idea the circumstances, but the officers showed the same reserved patience you expect from a professional who deals with other people’s tragedies on a daily basis.
What I am trying to convey, though I expect many will disagree, is that :
What I have seen are men and women (the few I have seen) trying to do the same job I did in the states, but with a heck of a lot less support, training, or resources.
What I see increases my interest in law enforcement in El Salvador. The fact that I was once a cop does prejudice me. But for those who really dislike the cops here, or cops anywhere else….
Unless you truly believe there should be no such thing as law enforcement (some, but very few, do), any discussion about a departments behavior should be in the interest of finding a way to make it both effective, and in line with what the population needs and wants.
Speaking of what the population needs….
Carpooling
I believe that some of the things police are criticized for here are outgrowths of what, in the past, they were expected to do. I think it’s possible the harsh tactics and flexible interpretation of civil rights police in the region are reputed to have, are both wrong and outdated, but grow out a system of enforcement designed in a violent, impoverished war zone. I do not believe that cops here are a bunch of greedy dishonest thugs. I think in the past the job demanded a totally different skill set, and also allowed the negative side of that same coin (thugism), to thrive and grow.
The demands have changed. Cultural expectations have changed. The operations of criminal organizations, though familiar, have changed.
I turn on my television here and watch, the first 48 (love!), CSI, and Law and Order. If those shows are frustrating for cops in the US, how must it be for cops here? Can the police here meet these new expectations without taking seriously the need for fully supported professionals in the field, and everything else that goes along with it.
I have heard and read about projects to develop the profession here. There is news about investments in both investigations and in forensics, even a CSI van, (not all the news is bad). These are all good things that can improve the countries ability to investigate and solve crimes, and hopefully down the road, go from solving crimes, to reducing crime.
What I have not heard about is fully developing the professionals that are out in the thick of it.
Recent news that officers do not train regularly in the use of their weapons is disturbing, but my mind immediately went to all the other things they must also not be trained regularly in. Can first responders get a real investigation up and running quickly? Are they developed enough to handle everything else so that when the fancy van finally arrives, it is useful? What about the crimes that are not “van-worthy”?
Salvadoran Officers at Political Rally
I don’t know. I have liked what I saw in every cop I have seen here. (Go ahead and tell me about the other ones…I know they are out there). But I hate what I hear about their salaries. El Salvador is not employee friendly.
These men and women, who are given the awesome task of protecting public safety, are payed less than some restaurant employees.
Restaurant employees are expected to make up for their low wages in tips. Where does that put cops? Oh But we don’t like that do we?
So when I see a crime scene on the news, and I get upset and start screaming, not about the crime, but about the crime-scene itself and the fact I can see it. All of it. Right there. On the TV. (tell me you don’t think this is a problem for investigators) It is with all of the above in mind.
Most of the known threats to El Salvador are familiar. I have a problem with that. Extortion is not just common, but is borderline expected.
The public has largely accepted that it will continue to happen. Because what are the cops gonna do? Well….at this point the cops are going to do nothing depending on who the victim is. What can an overworked, underpaid, under-trained, out resourced cop do? Nothing.
This country can post a cop on every corner and it won’t solve anything. The public cannot be guarded.
Further, crime has changed, and enforcement has to change with it. This is the time to elevate the profession. I propose that the country would be better off with a dramatically smaller police force, but one which invested heavily in the training and development and also in the salaries of each member. This is a cash strapped country, but I am convinced that the fancy CSI van will be borderline useless in fighting any real ongoing problems. Sell it to Nicaragua and give the cops a raise. I am convinced they will earn every penny if given the chance.
And no I don’t care what they did or didn’t do last week. I care what they are going to do this week, and next week.
Throwing money at the police will NOT reduce crime, but funding necessary adaptations to the changing nature of crime and demands of effective response is one way El Salvador can become a safer and wealthier place.
What do YOU think? Should the Police officers charged with protecting society, fighting crime and saving lives be paid less than the cashier at McDonalds?
August 17, 2011 at 6:01 am
i like it!!!
you're venting out your frustrations into a very real, tangible issue, public safety. that means you are slowly adpating and consciously or not, gradually becoming an everyday salvadoran.
August 18, 2011 at 3:17 am
I found the same high level of competence in the police throughout Central America and Colombia. The system works differently in the states, but the officers are incredible. The guy I got to know in Colombia was a true hero in a desparate war.
August 18, 2011 at 10:42 am
This is a post from our friend Tim Holt an expat here who works with the police departments here:
Tim Holt
First, I work in ballistics here. My department now averages 13 new cases each day from fire arms. This is down only slightly from when we started the department in 2007. However, although crime has only dropped slightly, convictions are up in the 1000's of percents. Before we set up this program, the police had one conviction from manual ballistics the year prior. We have thousands since 2008. Thousands of criminals now off the street, many who are recidivists.That's one positive aspect of the police. Another is arms registration. We have established a new system (with the Army) requiring everybody to register their fire arms. This system is far more detailed than the US and the data collected from the registration process is now used by the police to solve crimes. Speaking of the Army……The Army and the police are now working jointly to deter crime. This is a huge step for this country due to the anomosity between the two departments since the civil war. Basically now the Army is out there on patrol accompanied by a police officer. I see them all the time. I commonnly here from people "I see so many cops and they aren't doing anything". Well, there are a lot of cops out there. But, traffic cops only do traffic, 911 cops only handle 911 calls, GRP only handles SWAT calls, the list goes on and on. So, if you see a cop, he's not like a US cop, he has a specific job to do and he only does that. This I see as a problem. As far as training goes….. The guys in my department all have at least 6 years in ballistics training and most have over 10 years on the force. We have dozens more in training now. The street cops go to the Academy (ANSP) just like in the U.S.,,,Pay, yes it sucks but it is still considered to be a fairly good pay scale for here. I've got tons more I could add but I just wanted to try and give a little insight and hope to the situation from someone who works in the system. -Tim
August 20, 2011 at 1:32 am
My father-in-law has a coffee farm that partly boders the greater San Salvador metropolitan area. In the last few years he and his colleagues on neighboring farms have seen an increase is crime. High coffee prices make it more lucrative to highjack a truck fully loaded with recently picked coffee. Greater enforcement in San Salvador drives the gangs up the mountain.
My father-in-law and his colleagues have developed a public-private partnership (PPP) with the rural police. In the agreement the farmers provide the rural police resources (dirt bikes, fuel for the bikes, radios, guard posts..) and they provide greater security to the farms, farmhands, and the people that live on the farmland.
It has been working well the last few years.
August 20, 2011 at 6:50 am
That is pretty interesting. I was surprised to learn how big theft of coffee is. I had no idea!
August 21, 2011 at 11:09 pm
About 3 months after I got here, I drove through a roadblock at night – I just didn't see it and wasn't yet accustomed to the idea that you would put a roadblock in the middle of a 4 lane, divided highway. Anyway, I didn't see any cops there, so I just kept driving. About 5 minutes later, I was flagged down by a cop who had hitched a ride in the back of a passing pickup truck. He gave me a lecture on my driving habits and wrote me a 'muy grave' ticket. (Sir, was this really a 'very serious' act?… Yes.) I half expected him to ask me for a bribe, but nope – he just wrote the ticket, gave me a lecture, and hopped on the back of a police motorcyle that had stopped by.
August 22, 2011 at 9:58 am
That is Classic! See, I LOVE my new country even more now!
August 22, 2011 at 7:30 pm
They only expect bribes in Guatemala and Honduras.
August 23, 2011 at 6:29 am
AWE. That's a bummer. I mean it's not a bummer that the police in El Salvador are more honest, it's a bummer that they might not be, in neighboring countries.
August 22, 2011 at 6:53 am
Unfortunately, the necessary resources are not going to go to the PNC as long as the government relies on the military to "solve" the problem (and actually make it worse!)
Yes, what the police do today and tomorrow is important. But they going to keep doing poorly–and even continue their direct involvement in crime–as long as those who have committed crimes are not removed. Unfortunately, the PNC Inspector General faced an incredible amount of opposition when she tried to investigate them. She was accused of unfairly targetting former military officers. The truth, however, is that the militarization of the PNC has been a major factor contributing to its failure, in terms of both effectiveness and direct involvement in organized crime. Any attempt to go after the troublemakers will take you to the military officers because they are a major source of the problem.
August 22, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Wow. I definitely don’t know enough to respond to your comment, but I do very much hope that there are long term solutions that extend beyond any bandaid program. I do not know factually, but guess, that police are by the nature of their job, in a better position to solve crimes and think in terms of long term problem solving that is suitable for a community. If the partnership weakens long term efforts to investigate and prosecute organized crime, and corruption, then I hope we pull of the band-aid quickly. I am the first to admit that I do not know whether the military is a helpful boost to numbers and manpower (and womanpower too!), or a distraction and a tether holding policing back in time. I do welcome discussion of it though, if only for my own education!
August 23, 2011 at 10:08 am
Having been a crime photographer in El Salvador for two years, I have seen hundreds and hundreds of murders, in addition to countless other crimes. For the most part, my feeling was that the police were doing the best they could, at least at the beat-cop level, and in general I found them to act very professionally. At the upper levels, however, there is endemic corruption. Not as bad as, say, Guatemala, but still bad. This is not speculation, it is fact, but then again this goes for the entire Salvadoran government.
There is a side to the police, however, that Foreigners will generally not see, because you are treated diffrently if you are white or are perceived as having money; the police will generally show people with money a great deal more latitude and respect. To ordinary El Salvadorans, things are very different, and they have a very different attitude towards the police, and not just the ones who went through the civil war. Jail is a terrifying possibility, and once you are in jail in El Salvador, you are in a lot of trouble, they make jails in the US look like resorts in comparison, and not just places like "Miami" (Mariona prison), but the smaller bartolinas, as well. I would say talk to someone on the street about it, but they are wary, too, of speaking the truth about the police with foreigners.
August 23, 2011 at 11:03 am
My Spanish will have to improve, before I can have that kind of conversation, so in time. Even in the US there are classes of people with an inherent distrust of Police Officers, whether based on experience, history or rumor. By stark contrast, jails in the US can be "gotten used to", some people admit to being a little relieved when they get arrested, or get arrested to get a shower an hot meals for a few days. Jailin the US is terrible, but having worked in one for a couple years I can at least say the department put effort in to protecting inmates from harm, respecting their basic civil rights and maintaining ethical standards. Still horrible and I know some inmates might totally disagree. It is all relative when it comes to jails.
I will hang my hopes on what you said about the street cops. They are the foundation of the public´s relationship with the entire system. They are who the public sees and the one they use to measure the whole broader scheme. Old habits are hard to break, but I have a glass half full mindset!
August 23, 2011 at 11:14 am
I can get you connected to do ride alongs with police special forces on night raids some weekend in San Sal if you want. Fun stuff.
August 23, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Im speachless. ….. ……. Ok Im not. Are you sure? That sounds like the kind of thing they don't want anyone around asking questions and bothering them and trying to get everybody shot (it's a hobby). Of course, I would jump at the opportunity to learn more about how things are done here.
August 24, 2011 at 9:39 am
With regard to riding with the Salvadoran police, I would recommend looking at cases of PNC members who have been whistleblowers in human rights cases. Do you know anyone at the IDHUCA? Ask them about Eva in the Vilanova case. Or read my chapter on it.
August 24, 2011 at 2:11 pm
I do not know anyone at IDHUCA. I just looked it up and am reading, very interesting material. I would still ride along if the chance came up, though I doubt it will. I cannot imagine any team that would allow a random middle aged blogger tag along. I know I wouldn’t, if I was doing anything important. That said, I am always interested in how police function in this radically different environment and structure.
I am currently reading (it will take me a bit) a Harvard paper titled “no place to hide: gang state and clandestine violence in El Salvador” and finding it very informative and interesting. I will look for more on the topic(s).