Pubdate: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2010 El Paso Times Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/townhall/ci_14227323 Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829 CALDERON'S PLAN: NAB ANCILLARY CRIMINALS Mexican President Felipe Calderon's plan for strengthening state police appears to be one logical way to reduce the country's epidemic of extortion and kidnappings. They are two of the offshoots of the ongoing war against drug cartels. The president spoke in Juarez this week; it was his third visit to our sister city this year and came as no end seems in sight to the drug cartels battling each other and law enforcement as the cartels fight to control the flow of drugs in this area of the border. Calderon's message seemed in tune with a statement by recent Juarez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz. Reyes Ferriz said local police are not trained to fight the heavily armed, and well-manned, drug cartel armies. That is the job of the Mexican military. But a good local and state police force can subdue the smaller bands of thugs who have been getting away with extortion and holding kidnap victims for ransom. Many of these thugs are not believed to be under the direct wing of the drug cartels, but they many have ancillary roles in the overall scheme. Calderon has a tough mission with his plan to consolidate local and state police. He must root out embedded corruption in law enforcement. He must sign on officers people trust so the people of Mexico will help law enforcement in the battle against extortion, kidnapping, theft and other crimes. Part of the president's plan is to pay higher salaries and ramp up training efforts so drug cartels no longer infiltrate law enforcement's ranks with impunity. It's scary to hear police in Juarez say they must do what the cartels say, or they will be killed -- or members of their family will be killed. So far, the kidnappers and extortionists are working virtually unimpeded. The Juarez populace is scared. Many businesses have closed; many citizens have fled the city. Calderon told Juarenses, "It is of my interest to make sure that (crime) doesn't happen and to punish the guilty parties when it does." So far, the Mexican government has been set on its heels in the war against cartels, and because of inner corruption, it's had little effect on crime in general. This plan, aimed at people who work with the drug cartels, is a war that can be won by honest, better-trained police. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt