As part of initiatives to revamp the municipal police department, the Chapala government is looking to place local cops in charge of traffic control duties currently handled by agents of the state’s Secretaria de Movilidad (Semov).
According to Mayor Javier Degollado, the plan needs to be approved by the Jalisco state legislature. If it pans out, municipal police officers will be trained to enforce traffic laws, issue parking tickets and other violations, and take full responsibility for interceding in accidents.
Under the nation’s new criminal justice system, municipal police are already empowered to act as first responders at accident scenes, although they lack expertise to draw up technical legal findings required in those situations.
The mayor points out that the Lake Chapala region’s Semov division is badly understaffed, and cannot provide adequate service at nighttime and on weekends. With the full manpower of the municipal force taking charge, Degollado expects motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to enjoy safer and more fluid passage on local thoroughfares.
In addition, the municipality will benefit from collecting traffic fines that currently go into state coffers.
Chapala recently qualified for a ten-million peso annual federal subsidy to strengthen public security. According to Degollado, the municipality was selected because it now houses a regional criminal court and Ceinjure prison facility. Another factor taken into consideration was the need to ensure the well-being of the area’s large influx of visiting tourists and resident foreign retirees.
Degollado says these funds, plus two million pesos from the municipal budget, will be used to boost officer salaries and benefits, provide training programs, acquire additional vehicles and equipment, and improve department infrastructure.
Infrastructure improvements will include building a new police station on government land just off the highway at the north end of the city. The facility will have separate holding cells for men, women and minors, along with complete operational quarters for police officers and ancillary staff.