Police Corruption and Infighting Continues

Sept 15^th Ciudad Juarez – A narco banner was hung near the entrance to a tunnel accusing Chihuahua Governor Reyes Baeza and General Prosecutor for the state Patricia Gonzalez of protecting La Linea, the armed wing of the Juarez cartel that has heavily infiltrated the local and state police. The allegations include the charging of $1,000 monthly 'cuates' - extortion fees paid by police officers employed by the state - has resulted in the kidnapping and murder of innocent women and children in particular in an effort on the part of the extorted police to come up with the money when it's due. It lays the blame of the city's violence squarely on La Linea's doorstep, claiming that Sinaloa and El Chapo are against this type of criminal behavior.

Last week another banner was hung by La Linea and signed by El Diego promising not only to kill the friends but also the parents of known sicarios if a child who had previously been kidnapped wasn't returned unharmed.

In August, federal police mutinied and beat fellow inspector Salomon Alarcon Olvera, aka "El Chaman" after accusing him of being linked to drug cartels and having participated in kidnappings, executions and extortion in Ciudad Juarez. Olvera was also known to charge 'cuates' in addition to charging officers for their own weapons equipment and ammunition under the threat of death or arrest of drug possession if they didn't comply. Coverage and video of the incident here by Borderland Beat.

Federal Police Fight Local Police

Sept, 8^th Ixtepec, Oaxaca. A heavily armed group of Federal Preventive Police (PFP) attempted to retrieve fellow officers who were being detained at a local jail for public intoxication.

According to initial reports four PFP Officers were in a local bar known as “El Chicotazo” when they began drinking heavily and soon afterward started a fight with other patrons. The entire ordeal left the federal officers badly beaten. Upon arrival, the municipal police arrested the federal officers and several women who accompanied them during the brawl.

Within fifteen minutes a convoy of PFP descended on the jail with full force to rescue their comrades. Federal officers assaulted several municipals including Regino Guzman Colmenares who was in critical condition after his head was beaten against the cement floor with the butt of a rifle in the main office of the municipality after refusing to hand over cell keys.

The municipal police in Ciudad Ixtepec do not carry firearms and could not repel any aggression by the PFP.

Members of the 13^th Cavalry regiment of the Mexican Army stationed nearby were close enough to hear gunfire at the police station and detained twelve federal officers, relieving them of their weapons and equipment including: several AR-15's, bulletproof vests, radios and a late model truck.

Despite the aggressive acts against the local police there was no initial disposition filed against the twelve federal officers with the Federal Public Ministry, as is the normal procedure. The army acted unilaterally and released the officers in question, much to the chagrin of the municipal officers at the scene.

The city administrator later said a complaint was had been filed against the federal officers. The PFP has issued an apology to the Municipality for the actions of the officers involved and requested that the matter no longer be pursued.