-Published: Wednesday, November 6, 2019-

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Friday police from diverse law enforcement organizations in the country finished two courses sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics Law Enforcement Affairs and developed by instructors of the National Police of Colombia.

According to the Judicial Investigating Organization, the first course was the administration of human resources and interviews. The four week course and had the participation of 29 agents from the Judicial Investigation Organization, Border Police, Drug Control Police, Directorate of Intelligence and Security and the Ministry of Security.

"This training was important since, thanks to the instructors, Daniel Andrés Benjumea, Julián Felipe Chitiva and Oscar Oyola, because the police in our country will be able to have better management of the information sources and a good application of the interviews they carry out," said the Judicial Investigating Organization

The other course was command, direction and leadership presented over two weeks for judicial agents, Municipal Police and Legislative Assembly workers, among others.

"In this course, the participants learned to exercise better leadership within the area in which they work," a statement. "This thanks to instructors Edilson de Jesús Gañan Arenas, Miguel Alberto Vargas García and Miguel Alejandro Linares Zipaquira."

According to the Judicial Investigation Organization, carrying out this type of training is important because it helps Costa Rican police officers to improve job performance and to provide quality work for citizens and the institution.




The Bureau of International Narcotics Law Enforcement Affairs donated $413,496 in October for the remodeling and improvements in the polygon in La Reforma prison, located in the Province of Alajuela. The grant was channeled through the U.S. Embassy.

"We offer our most sincere congratulations for completing the remodeling of the polygon in La Reforma," said U.S. Ambassador Sharon Day. "This is a critical piece of our joint efforts for improving the capacity of police officers."

According to Day, the polygon will be used not only as a basis for the training of the prison police officers but it will also be a joint training center for all police agencies in Costa Rica.

"It is a great asset for the country and represents only one of the many ways in which the United States is working with our Costa Rican partners to improve the prison system," said Day.

The donation was used for construction materials.

Apart from the materials, the U.S. Embassy also donates tools such as camelbacks, glasses, riot gloves, first aid cases, hats, bulletproof vests and machines for reviewing packages, among others, the embassy reported.

According to the Ministry of Security, in the polygon police officers can train virtually with high technology the use of firearms and procedures in cases of hostage-taking, among others.

The ministry architects designed the plans and carried out project management, and the prisoners were the labor force to build the polygon, said the ministry in its statement.

According to the ministry, the polygon is 544 square meters, has a theoretical training classroom, a space for virtual training, an armory and lanes for shooting practices. among other facilities.

The new polygon was inaugurated by Day, the minister of Justice and Peace, Marcia González, the minister of Public Security, Michael Soto, and the director of the Penitentiary Police, Pablo Bertozzi.



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What other types of support, related to security, could the U.S. government gives to Costa Rica?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com