Any illusions that the crime wave in Jalisco would abate in the wake of a new governor assuming office were quickly shattered after at least 40 homicides were reported in the first four days of Enrique Alfaro’s administration.
And with the Christmas season nearing – a time when crime traditionally spikes in Mexico – the governor promised new measures to reduce lawlessness and violence in the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
Most of the Thursday to Sunday homicides occurred in the metropolitan area. Nine were reported on Thursday, December 6 – the day of Alfaro’s inauguration – in addition to another nine on Friday, 11 on Saturday and 11 on Sunday.
Several of the incidents were multiple homicides. On Friday, five men were massacred at a house in Colonia Loma Linda, while in Colonia Guadalupana, a couple were shot to death in their car while their two daughters sat in the back seat. Four men were slain in a late-night shooting in Colonia Lopez Portillo on Sunday.
Authorities admit they have few leads in any of the cases and are still interviewing witnesses.
Addressing the high levels of insecurity in the state will be Alfaro’s most pressing task, judging from citizen polls taken recently (see facing graphic). After insisting in his inaugural address that no quarter will be given to criminals, the new governor has moved quickly to reorganize the state’s police forces and implement new strategies.
At a meeting of his new security cabinet Wednesday, Alfaro announced new strategies in police patrolling for the metro area, to be carried out in conjunction with the armed forces and federal police. He refused to be drawn out on the details, so as not to forewarn criminals of his planned actions.
The governor seemed exasperated when told that none of the 40 recent homicides were captured on closed circuit security cameras. He immediately ordered a complete reassessment of the metro area’s network of cameras, known as Escudo Urbano C5.
Alfaro also announced that municipalities in Jalisco that cannot properly fund their local police forces will be able to apply for subsidies. This money should be spent on increasing the salaries of officers (see story above) and providing them with better equipment and working conditions.