AMCostaRica©
AMCostaRica©
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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. / Ministry
of Security courtesy photo.
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- Published Friday, October 4,
2019-
U.S.
government donate more than
$400,000 to build a new polygon
in La Reforma prison
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The U.S. Embassy, through the
Bureau of International Narcotics
Law Enforcement Affairs, donated
$413,496 for the remodeling and
improvements in the polygon in La Reforma jail*,
located in the province of
Alajuela.
"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 of the embassy was
used for the construction
materials.
Apart from the materials, the U.S.
Embassy also donates tools such as
camelback, 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.
Minister of Justice and Peace
Marcia González, Day, Minister of
Public Security Michael Soto and
the director of the Penitentiary
Police, Pablo Bertozzi,
inaugurated the new polygon.
Related to recent
donations from the U.S. Government to the
Ministry of Security, as A.M. Costa Rica
reported on Sept 30th, four Costa
Rican women police officers were
training in Conference No. 57 of the
International Association of Women
Police, known as IAWP, which is held in
the city of Anchorage, Alaska, in the
U.S.
They were invited by INL, "as another
example of the invaluable support of the
U.S. government to the
professionalization of our police," said
the Ministry of Security in its
statement.
The four policewomen represent the
Ministry and are from the following
organizations: the Air Surveillance
Service, the Border Police, the National
Coast Guard Service and the police of
the municipality of Cartago.
The theme of the conference is
"Preparing the Next Generation".
According to the Ministry, the IAWP
training has international prestige for
the quality of the instruction that
participants receive on various issues
related to police work.
This training includes the participation
of representatives from 43 countries
around the world.
"As part of the pre-training activities,
the officers participated in various
cultural activities in which they had
the opportunity to show a little of the
folklore and culture of our country,"
said the Ministry in its statement.
On August, three
police officers, were trained for more
than a month, on leadership
development, at the Western Hemisphere
Institute for Security Cooperation,
known as WHINSEC, at Fort Benning in
Columbus, Georgia.
The WHINSEC institute was established
by federal law and opened in January
2001 to provide professional education
and training to military, civilian,
and law enforcement personnel from
eligible nations from the Western
Hemisphere.
"The Institute provides the nations of
the Western Hemisphere the opportunity
to enhance the professional level of
their national military, uniformed
police, and civilian security
workforce and to provide them the
tools to successfully use
multinational and inter-agency
approaches to regional security
challenges," said the institute in its
statement.
According to WHINSEC, an equally
crucial component of the mission is
the establishment of professional and
personal relationships within and
among participating nations,
encouraging cooperation at all levels.
The three Costa Rican officers were
trained from July 15th to August 23rd,
along with 88 students from countries
such as Colombia, Ecuador, and the
U.S.
"The course was based on activities
which focused on personnel leadership.
Through field exercises, students
developed the critical analysis to
resolve conflicts that may occur in
daily duties," said the Ministry in
its statement.
According to the Ministry, the
training was based on the importance
of compliance with Human Rights.
The U.S. Embassy, also donated two
weeks of training for another team of
15 Costas Rican officers.
According to the
Embassy, with the support of the
official U.S. Border Patrol, the 15
Costa Rican officers received training
in Basic Bicycle Patrol, carrying out
tests such as bicycle tours for 217
kilometers, "pedaling through rain,
humidity, and heat."
This training is a "demonstration of
our commitment and joint work with
Costa Rican authorities for a safer
Costa Rica," said the Embassy in its
statement.
--------------------------
What other types of donation, 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
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