Bogotá police first make changes to its operation – Bogotá

Mayor Claudia López and General Carlos Rodríguez, commander (e) of the Bogotá Metropolitan Police, came out this Thursday to explain together how the recovery process of the 72 CAIs that were affected in the days of violence last week will be, as well as the strategy that will be implemented to guarantee security in the neighborhoods while progressing in the reconstruction of these structures.

The announcement is a positive message because it shows that despite the fact that there were positions on both sides that generated tensions, both Mebog and the District have already begun to work together to regain the trust of the public and guarantee security and coexistence in the localities.

(Also: What the District knows about the victims of September 9, 10 and 11)

Regarding the CAI, they explained that all have insurance that will be effective for their reconstruction, But while this progresses, the police service provided in these will be guaranteed even if the infrastructure is not there.

“Despite the difficulties, we continue to work together and in coordination, as always, and we have a whole security and coexistence device for Bogotá. That people do not believe that because they damaged the CAI they will not be operating, or that for that reason there is no security, “said López from the CAI Jaboque, one of those who were vandalized.

But the strategy announced by the president goes further and shows that, from her capabilities, she is implementing changes in the provision of police services. López explained that they are working to have “more and better police.”

Perhaps the most important change is that from now on Bogota citizens will stop calling CAI cell numbers, or the telephones of the uniformed in the area, to request a service. Everything will be channeled through line 123.

(Read also How is the relationship between the Mayor’s Office and the Police?)

“This will give us a greater capacity for rapid response and supervision and control. From 123 we will know what Police service was assigned and will have to say what results it had. Another problem in Bogotá that was in evidence, but that came from before, is that there is no supervision or control of the uniformed men, ”López said.

This means that now no complaints will be received in these places. The invitation that General Rodríguez made is for them to interpose themselves in the ADenuncia mobile application. The senior official added that the reconstruction of the CAI will also include a new arrangement of the security cameras inside these facilities.

“A shortcoming that we find in each CAI is that we do not have in real time what happens, or in C4 or linked to the National Police, and those images in some CAIs were lost. From the arrangement of these 72 CAIs, the cameras will be connected in real time to the C4 for greater effectiveness in recordings and that what happens in the rooms is not lost. This will allow us to control and accompany our police officers, ”said General Rodríguez.

Also, 15 mobile CAIs were put into operation that will be touring areas where police facilities were vandalized. In fact, the mayor explained that reinforcements have arrived at the Metropolitana that will come to support citizen requirements, mainly in the neighborhoods where the CAIs were incinerated.

(In other news: International destinations that you can go to from September 21)

“There is an additional reinforcement of one officer and six mobile policemen in the jurisdiction of three CAIs for the security of the citizens”, explained the commander (e) of the Metropolitan.

Another aspect mentioned by both the Mayor’s Office and the Police was the call for the community to help by providing information on 13 people who participated in the acts of vandalism last week.

“We need your cooperation. Just as citizens have come to help us clean the CAIs while the work is being done, which we appreciate, we also need the information they have. We have the face of 13 vandals. If someone helps us identify the name, where they live, a payment of up to 3 million pesos is arranged, ”López invited.

Balance in the Council

This Thursday, Mayor Claudia López; the Secretary of Government, Luis Ernesto Gómez, and the Secretary of Security, Hugo Acero, spoke in the City Council about the progress and actions in clarifying the events of September 9, 10 and 11, which included protests, riots, violence against civilians and police and cases of police abuse.

In total, according to the figures provided to the district council, there were 216 police officers injured, 161 on the first day, and four by firearm. In addition, 305 injured civilians were counted, 75 by firearm, 43 with sharps, and the rest suffered another type of injury.

In addition, he confirmed that there were deaths, 9 from gunshot wounds, and a woman killed by vandals who robbed a bus and ran over her. She shared a compilation “of the evidence delivered, first, to President Iván Duque and then to the Attorney General’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office and international organizations, on vandalism and indiscriminate use of firearms by some police officers on September 9 and 10.”

Daniel Palacios, Vice Minister of the Interior and who was in the venue, said that there has been communication between the Mayor’s Office and the National Government, and that “complaints should be investigated and it should be clear that the vast majority of the police comply with the protocols.”

Keep reading:

– Javier Ordóñez, the murder that plunged Bogotá into chaos.

-The faces behind the 581 injured in protests in Bogotá.

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