Rosarito Continues Major Police Upgrades and
Improvements for Resident and Visitor Safety
ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---The new city administration here is continuing with major police department changes to improve security for
its 140,000 residents and more than one million visitors a year.
“Crime is not rampant in Rosarito and we have had very few crimes involving our visitors,” said Mayor Hugo Torres. “But any is too many and, although
we have many fine officers, we have had a problem with police extortion.”
The ongoing effort will include creation of a special Tourist Police Force and a special ombudsman’s office, which will be available around-the clock
to assist visitors with any complaint or legal problem.
Torres took office Dec. 1, after a decisive victory in a mayoral race in which he pledged to make security and police reform top priorities.
Torres, the principal owner of the Rosarito Beach Hotel, was a leader in the vote for city hood in 1995 and was appointed its first mayor for a
three-year term. This time in office, he has vowed to make it the model city he always hoped it would become.
Among the new administration’s actions to date:
• Jorge Montero, a 41-year-old former Army captain, has been brought in as police chief
• In December, all the city’s 150 officers were disarmed so their weapons could be tested for possible crime involvement and they were also sent for
polygraph exams
• Military and state and federal police were brought in as replacements during the screening
• At least four former officers have been fired. One, a former deputy commander, has been arrested in connection with a December assassination attempt
on the new police chief
• Officers’ salaries have been raised 15 percent, with the opportunity for a 25 percent monthly bonus for good performance
• Academy training will be required of new officers
• A 12-member Tourist Police Force will begin operating in about a month in areas heavily frequented by visitors. Officers will have special uniforms
and patrol cars and their chief will work from the city’s Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Ricardo Moreno, a former federal police officer and state prosecuting attorney, has been named ombudsman. His job is to assist visitors with any
problems. In case of a crime occurring, he will fill out paperwork for them so it can be reported. He and support staff will be on call 24 hours day
“Before, it could be difficult for people to report crimes at the state office because of language barriers,” Moreno said. “Our office eliminates that
problem. People can always reach us through the Rosarito Convention & Visitors Bureau, which will always be staffed.”
Torres said the current perception of crime problems in Baja exceeds the reality, largely because of the highly publicized and visible crackdown by
authorities on organized crime.
“But,” Torres said, “the situation needs to be improved and we’ve made great gains. It is a challenge, but with the support of state and federal
authorities we will continue to do so. We look forward to showing our many friends and visitors the new Rosarito.”Hook - 2-22-2008 at 10:26 AM
Man, these sound like really good, proactive changes. Excellent.thebajarunner - 2-22-2008 at 10:31 AM
It would be great to be able to safely patronize the very nice people in Rosarito again.
I miss the good restaurants, the panaderia, etc.
Just been too dicey to turn off since my encounter with their "finest" last year.
And the merchants and business people really deserve our support, we just need to feel comfortable in driving down that street (and up the sidestreets
in particular)Terry28 - 2-22-2008 at 10:43 AM
We are going next month....All of this "sounds" good now only time will tell.
Although we have never had a problem in Rosarito, we have been stopped in TJ and had to "donate " to the police relief fund!!!bajadock - 2-22-2008 at 11:18 AM
Headed north to R.B. for weekend. Will post report Monday, although forecast looks gray and mostly wet.
Drat
The Gull - 2-22-2008 at 12:32 PM
Just when it was getting nice without all those pesky Gringos.
Yes, grey day, today.
I'm off to Mariscos Alegria for lunch, so that will torture some of you who aren't here.The Gull - 2-23-2008 at 11:42 PM
Dammit,
Checked around town today and there were some Gringos in Vince's, Bernie's and I even spotted one in Puerto Nuevo.
This place will be overrun before long.
Had a nice dinner with some of Hugo's staff and their families.
One place that "fell" to the damage from the hype of SD and other newspapers - Arcel's is closed. Nice man with a gift for making people comfortable
and serving real value in Baja cusine. He will be missed.Sharksbaja - 2-24-2008 at 01:27 AM
In this biz daily cash flow is a must. A shame to hear. I'm still not willing to write off my routine in Baja. Many who protest going will actually
think they are the ones to have their backs patted once the sensationalism dies off and things return to a more normal atmosphere...The Gull - 2-24-2008 at 11:34 AM
Sharks,
I would suspect that the "recent experts" on the subject of crime in Baja, never go there to begin with, so their return is not expected, needed or
wanted. They may be looking for a pat on the back - won't happen.
Certainly, there is strong evidence that "press coverage" comes primarily from those who sit on their fat ***** and use the internet and the phone to
acquire opinions (not story facts) from people who stand to gain from exaggerating their knowledge.
[Edited on 2-24-2008 by The Gull]Kell-Baja - 2-24-2008 at 02:41 PM
Things should only get better nowWoooosh - 2-24-2008 at 05:17 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Man, these sound like really good, proactive changes. Excellent.
Wake up. This is exactly what Nancy Conroy in the Grinigo Gazette was saying year after year- they (the next government to take over) just tell you
what you want to hear over and over again. A mexican friend of mine said it best: "Mexico is stuck on stupid." They can't solve a problem they don't
have- so to speak. The president of Mexico didn't send the Mexican Army to TJ and Rosarito because of over blown Media reports and a few crimes
against tourists. And the narcos aren't torturing and dumping Mexican singers bodies in TJ streets with threatening notes attacehd becasue they have
nothing better to do. This is a war tourists shouldn't be engaged in or families exposed to.
There's a deep ugly problem in Mexico that needs fixing and the Mexicans need time to fix it on their own. No one is going to solve this with an
Obama speech- it's going to take years to rid this area of the narcos and insitutionaized corruption. It's just too bad the narco social situation
hit at the same time the tourism and real estate market was picking up.
I didn't notice anything in the press release that said the Rosarito Beach police now had their guns back. Yesterday a cop asked me if I had a seen a
bald bloodied guy with a pit bull on the beach. When I pointed the man out he grabbed his radio and ran for cover while he called it in (no gun). It
is reassuring to know that new police officers will be required to attend a training academy (geesh- you think Blackwater can help out here since
they're so close by anyway).
How much of the tourits/travel downturn is just due to people tightening their belts and staying closers to home? The San Diego economy sucks hard and
no one I know there has money to burn on a day-trip for lobster right now.
Spring Break is the next Rosarito event- we'll see how the crowds treat the merchants. I don't kow if Iggy is doing any Spring Break marketing this
year while he hides in the states from his kidnappers (another sensationalized fabricated over-hyped story I guess- like the MacMillan race team baja
1000 story). Last year the city actually named Iggy himself as the cause of lost tourist dollars since he did so many of the youth oriented events.
Funny... a few years ago everyone down here was b-tching that Spring Break fever (Playboy Spring Break Capital) had made life in Rosarito unbearable.
Be careful what you wish for...
[Edited on 2-25-2008 by Woooosh]DENNIS - 2-24-2008 at 05:22 PM
Tourism in border cities is getting hit on all sides. The new passport/birth certificate regulation won't help either.jeans - 2-24-2008 at 06:10 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Spring Break is the next Rosarito event- we'll see how the crowds treat the merchants.
I got a call from Wyoming last night after a friend saw a news report on TV suggesting that people avoid Rosarito for Spring Break because of recent
violence against tourists. So the "hype" is national, not just local.
It will be very interesting to see how this all plays out.
Squat & watch...DENNIS - 2-24-2008 at 06:11 PM
And a no-nonsense phone call from Nancy Conroy.Aventurera - 2-26-2008 at 12:09 PM
Was just in Rosarito on Sunday. The police still don't have their guns and no news on when they'll get them back. They are now officially armed with
pepper spray and police batons! (The batons are actually a bit of a novelty since Mexican police are notoriously underequipped, even having to share
handcuffs.) One police officer said (jokingly) that he's considering getting himself a slingshot. However, the PFP (federales) will remain in
Rosarito until things are stabilized with the municipal police.DENNIS - 2-26-2008 at 12:58 PM
Ah, yes....The ol' slingshot defense. It did wonders for Tijuana. Maybe they could update their new arsenal with water baloons.
[Edited on 2-26-2008 by DENNIS]Woooosh - 2-26-2008 at 01:31 PM
I was repairing some storm damage in front of my house with my nephew and a helper when the Rosarito Police rolled up and wanted to add my helper to
the surly group in back of their pick-up truck.
They frisked him and were a little stunned when I called out to him by name from the beach. I yelled to him not to worry- this was the new and clean
Rosarito police and they would just serve him breakfast at the station and he wouldn't have to pay a mordida. You should see the look that cop gave
me! Like I'm still cutting off his income stream. Yes, they let my helper get back to work and left with one place still empty in the back of their
pick-up.
Nothing has changed. Even with their new standards, training and pay raise- they're the same. It's all smoke and mirrors without the smoke and
mirrors.DENNIS - 2-26-2008 at 02:04 PM
Thanks for the real life update, Woooosh. If I had written anything like this, I'd be accused by some of your marooonic neighbors of being
under-medicated.wilderone - 2-26-2008 at 02:27 PM
"It was actually all those whiny posters on Baja Nomad that pushed him over the edge."
You're welcome.
Remember when the posts came out to write in to Mexican officials? Who knows?DENNIS - 2-26-2008 at 02:45 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
Remember when the posts came out to write in to Mexican officials? Who knows?
I think gnukid was behind that one.Sharksbaja - 2-26-2008 at 04:22 PM
You mean he collected tire track impressions on the toll road and sent them off to the officials. I had no idea. Now that's gettin' the job
done!Gracias Gnu.DENNIS - 2-26-2008 at 04:52 PM
Couldn't take the impressions on the hot, hard asphalt so, he drew them with crayons.bancoduo - 2-26-2008 at 04:56 PM
When not fighting crime Gnu. is a "mild mannered reporter" for the Daily Planet.
