Fighting crime in the Lake Chapala area is a matter of prime concern to Jalisco Attorney General Luis Carlos Nájera, who made that point clear during his speaking appearance at the March 12 meeting of the Canadian Club of Lake Chapala.
“We are trying to fix things here. You are going to see real changes in the near future,” he told the full house audience as he launched into an outline of specific strategies that are currently in the works.
New heavy duty patrol trucks delivered to the Chapala and Jocotepec police departments just prior to the gathering represent one example of what is being done to enhance public security on the local front, Nájera explained.
He announced that the Fiscalia General del Estado (FGE) – the full scope public security and criminal justice agency under his command – is collaborating with the Lake Chapala Society to set up weekly on-site service of the Minsterio Público (district attorney’s office) with a bilingual lawyer present to facilitate registering complaints from foreign residents. Advice and assistance is also being provided to implement neighborhood watch programs throughout the community.
Nájera revealed that intelligence gathering is another approach to reducing the rate of home robberies and break-ins. Following the theory that many of these crimes may be perpetrated by domestic, service and construction workers who easily become familiar with the valuables and daily routines of their employers, he suggests establishing systems to keep identification records and background checks on local laborers.
In response to a question regarding organized crime, Nájera said he does not believe that the recent capture of notorious drug baron Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman will cause a surge in violence in Jalisco. He indicated that the problem to be addressed here is more about drug abusers and small-time dealers.
The attorney general does not believe that legalizing drugs is a solution. “Those who consume drugs are not criminals, they are sick people. We need to work on teaching kids to avoid addictions,” he said.
After finishing his talk, Nájera took a few minutes to answer the following questions from the Reporter:
Q: Could you give us an update on the Discombe-Kular murder case?
A: We have turned over the victims’ remains and stolen belongings. One of the murderers is in custody. The search for his accomplice continues, with the cooperation of Interpol and authorities in northern states where some of his relatives reside.
Q: What changes have come about over the past year under the new structure of Jalisco’s justice system?
A: I think the results speak for themselves. Today uniformed police are on better talking terms with investigative police and the district attorneys are working hand-in-hand with the police. The rupture that once existed has finished. We’re striving to work together, not like before when different areas or police officers didn’t communicate with one another and guarded information. Now the police and the MPs are on same track and bringing about positive results. A good example is the rapid capture of the (Discombe-Kular) murderer that was accomplished through good investigative work and solid integration of case paperwork at the Ministerio Público.
Q: What impact will the state’s new Fuerza Única (single police force) have here at lakeside? And what is your view on our mayor’s request for setting up a local base for a regional police unit?
A: I think that the idea for a base here is viable. The Fuerza Única is designed to confront high-impact crimes. A fleet of five patrols carrying ten officers each can deal with any kind of risky occurrence. Imagine the difference compared to a single unit with two officers on board.
Q: It is said that Jalisco has a record of 20,000 outstanding arrest warrants. What is being done to face this situation?
A: Day-by-day we are doing more and more to detain outlaws and abate crime. The state penitentiary dawned this morning with 17,483 inmates. There are around 1,000 more individuals in prison now than there were a year ago. In Jalisco anyone who commits a crime will be vigorously pursued and brought to justice.
Q: How are you dealing with public perceptions that the weakest links are in the Ministerio Público and prosecution procedures?
A: We have a system that is very cumbersome for the victim, but we hope things will change favorably once the adversarial trial system takes effect (in 2016). Things will also be greatly simplified by nationwide application of the new federal law on criminal procedures.