Yapacaní to receive 10 additional police officers, vehicles and 50 cameras following wave of crimes
Following the abduction and murder of community leader Edgar Peñaloza, national authorities committed to reinforcing security in the municipality of Yapacaní in Santa Cruz.
Authorities strengthen security in Yapacaní following abduction and murder of community leader
Ten additional police officers, two vehicles, communication radios and at least 50 surveillance cameras: these were the commitments made by national authorities at a meeting held on Tuesday, 16 June in Yapacaní, according to El Deber.
The meeting was convened by social and community organisations in the municipality of Santa Cruz in response to the abduction and subsequent murder of trade union leader Édgar Peñaloza, an event that triggered demands for greater state presence in the area.
The departmental police commander, Colonel David Yenky Gómez, announced the issuance of assignment memorandums to incorporate ten new officers. The municipality currently has 56 police officers distributed across two shifts; with the reinforcements, the force will rise to 66 uniformed personnel. "The mission is to generate a sense of security so that all the inhabitants of this municipality can carry out their activities with absolute normality," said Gómez.
The colonel added that two police vehicles and communication radios would be made available to facilitate field operations.
In coordination with the Vice-Minister of Citizen Security, Rodolfo Montero, an agreement was also reached to install an integrated surveillance system with at least 50 cameras at strategic points in the locality. Gómez stressed that citizen security is a shared responsibility between the Government, the Police, the municipality and the residents themselves. "We must all work together with the aim of generating a sense of security for our population," he said.
The meeting was attended by the Vice-Minister of Autonomies, Adrián Oliva, and the mayor of Yapacaní, Juan Ramos Alanis, among other authorities. Representatives from various sectors expressed their concern to the officials and demanded clarification of the Peñaloza murder, a commitment that was also recorded in the conclusions of the meeting.
Source: El Deber