Meet the new cops, same as the old cops?

The News (Mexico CIty):

The Monday announcement to disband Mexico City’s judicial police force and implement 20 new measures to improve security and policing was met with approval from the federal government, but human rights activists and analysts expressed skepticism over whether the moves would be enough.

Mexico City Human Rights Commissioner Emilio Alvarez Icaza told reporters that Mayor Marcelo Ebrard must focus on real changes within the judicial police and law enforcement in general, rather than just replacing “names.”

In the Federal District the Judicial Police — not so affectionately know as “los Judas” (as in bribery, 30 pieces of silver, treachery… as well as Judas Tadeo, the patron saint of Mexican cops and other lost causes) — are being disbanded, and will be replaced by the “Investigative Police.” Alvarez Icaza is concerned that this is just a cosmetic change, getting rid of the discredited “Judas” (who were fingered for blame after the disastrous “News Divine” bar raid) who may have been involved in the recent kidnap and murder of a 14-year old boy.

Judicial police functions will be folded into a new body, the Investigative Police (Policia Investigadora), which — if it is more than a change in uniforms and names — may be a step in the right direction. My understanding (which I admit is far from complete) is that the Judas were basically “go-fers” for the courts and public ministers (prosecutors).  They are not involved in crime control until after the fact.  The requirements for the job seem to be sketchy at best.  According to El Universal, half of all kidnappings involve active or former policemen.

The Policia Investigadora will give the ministers a tool to look into suspicious activities before a denuncion is issued.  Among other things, the Policia Investigadora will (at least it appears they will)include plain-clothes detectives.  And, probably more importantly, an internal affairs division.  A lot of this is just a management shake-up, which is a good thing.  It is a chance to change the job requirements, weed out the losers and crooks (who may need to rehabilitation… or be tracked by the new Investigative police), and continue the slow process of building a better educated, better trained public security force.