long-term careers are both possible and desirable.
We have established a new system of promotions,
incentives and sanctions with clear requirements,
expectations and career development paths. All new
officers must now have a bachelor’s degree.
We are also increasing police retirement benefits
and providing compensation to families in case
of disablement or loss of life in the line of duty. In
addition, we need to allocate $1.2 billion annually for
wage increases and to establish national standards
for police salaries.
Although our starting point for reform is the
Federal Police, we will not stop there. We have
proposed extensive coordination mechanisms
with all state governments to help institute the
same high standards of professionalism on legal,
technical, administrative, and budgetary measures
nationwide. This is certainly not an easy task: there
are huge gaps in the quality and quantity of law
enforcement institutions. But we are committed
to reforming the whole system.
We are also acquiring and developing cutting-
edge technology to modernize our operations. The
new Mexico Platform system will help us build
the most comprehensive database of criminal
information in Mexican history and will be central
to fulfilling new investigative and intelligence
tasks.
back communities?
GENERA L
DOUGLAS
FRASER
is commander
of U. S. Southern
Command.
EDUARDO MUNOZ/REUTERS
Security requires a “whole government” approach where government institutions are strengthened, the rule of law is respected and human rights are
defended. When citizens feel secure,
everyone gains; when they don’t, only the
powerful gain. Colombia is an example of
how security requires the commitment
of policymakers and citizens alike.
In 2002, Colombians came together to
reclaim their communities from narco-terrorist insurgents. At the peak of its
strength, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) governed an
area roughly the size of Switzerland.
Plan Colombia and its follow-up
program, the National Consolidation
Plan, changed all this. Using a broad
inter-agency approach, the Colombian
FRASER ANSWERS:
armed forces, police and civil society
built an enduring presence throughout
the country. Between 2002 and 2009,
terrorist attacks decreased by 70 percent
to 486; murders dropped by 44 percent
to 15,817; and kidnapings plunged by
almost 90 percent to only 213 last year.
At the same time, the number of FARC
combatants decreased by almost 50
percent to approximately 8,500 last year.
The effect on Colombia was significant:
economic growth of over 5 percent, a 20
percent reduction in poverty and a 25
percent drop in unemployment.
These figures make clear that a
concerted effort among all state
institutions in collaboration with citizens
can produce results. Working together,
a nation and its citizens are stronger—
and more secure
