Mexico safety chief's tough job: policing the police

Drug-related violence in Mexico is soaring, as are crimes against civilians such as kidnappings. The country's police force is key in helping to bring back stability and a sense of security to the Mexican people. But public confidence in the nation's cops is low (see the video above) -- and for good reason.

Drug money and corruption have long tainted law enforcement in Mexico, reports Ken Ellingwood.

But Mexico's top police official, Genaro Garcia Luna, with President Felipe Calderon's backing and the aid of technology, may succeed in reforming the system, analysts say.

"As field marshal in the government's 21-month-old offensive against drug traffickers, the former intelligence specialist has begun trying to turn Mexico's police into a modern, trustworthy and well-equipped force. His task amounts to fixing a broken army in the midst of a war -- a conflict that has killed 2,700 people this year.

"More than 500 police officers and soldiers have died since the government campaign began in December 2006.

"The weaknesses of Mexican police are vast. Most officers have at most a grade school education. They often have to buy their own guns on wages equal to those of a supermarket cashier. Many times, the average cop has his hand out for a bribe, in part to pay off bosses for the privilege of a job he probably will not hold for more than a few years. Problems are worst at the local levels," writes Ellingwood.

In August, thousands of Mexicans took to the streets to protest rising crime levels in Mexico and to demand action from their government. See a video of the march below.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

Comments

[ElGato]

How long will he have to live? He is taking on an almost impossible job, far more dangerous than anything in Iraq.