BajaNews - 1-18-2006 at 06:53 AM
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4374434&nav=HMO6
Jan 17, 2006
Tourists visiting the Mexican border community of Algodones can now turn to one of 10 bilingual police officers if they have questions or encounter
problems during their visit.
The officers are readily recognizable in their specially marked cars, which have the words "TOURIST POLICE" emblazoned across the side in big block
letters.
Oscar Gomez, who started working as a full-time tourist police officer last month, said he's fielded price-gouging complaints from tourists, arrested
overly aggressive vendors and called an ambulance for a senior who hadn't taken her medicine.
But most of the time, he's more of a tour guide, he said.
"We show them around. Sometimes they'll have an address and don't know how to get there, so we'll help. Maybe even give them a ride," Gomez said.
Municipal Delegate Ramon Hernandez said he solicited help from the mayor of Mexicali, who sent the five police officers and the car from that border
community during the peak tourist season.
The other five officers were already working as police officers in Algodones.
"I saw many people that come here and on many occasions they didn't have police to help them," he said.
Officer Ramon Ramos Trigo said visitors like the new service and have told him that it makes them feel more secure.
They've also told him that they appreciate the assistance with directions when the officers act as guides.
Marge Wilks of Canada, who was in Algodones recently, said any police presence is a good thing.
"Plus, you're getting all the elderly people down here. They can have more problems as far as taking care of themselves," she said.
turtleandtoad - 1-18-2006 at 10:27 AM
Great idea, now if we could just get the police in US border towns to recipocate.