Tijuana police increase firepower

48 assault rifles given at ceremony
By Anna Cearley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
December 13, 2006

TIJUANA – After suffering high losses in recent months, some members of the city's police force were given new assault rifles yesterday to stand up to criminals.

The force's higher-ranking chiefs were formally assigned Heckler & Koch assault rifles at a ceremony in front of City Hall. In addition to the 48 rifles, 250 Beretta pistols also were being handed out.

“We know exactly what we are facing,” said Tijuana Mayor Jorge Hank Rhon, referring to criminals typically armed with powerful weapons.

The city started paperwork for the additional weapons about a year and a half ago, but in recent months the vulnerability of city police has become especially notable.

Eight Tijuana city police officers and four from other law enforcement agencies have been killed since September. The high number has created suspicion that some of the deaths are tied to feuding drug groups who form ties with officers.

However, city officials have said they believe the officials are being targeted because they are doing their jobs and standing up to traffickers.

And the check is in the mail! I got a bridge I'd like to sell ya!
I was recently told of one man who was hired by the city police as an officer. He was told that he would not get paid for three months (It's been six months and he still has not been paid.) and should ask his neighbors to help out his family. He was also told that he had to buy his own uniform pants and that the police department would not be providing him a gun. He should either buy one in the US or on the black market from one for the drug dealers. And you wonder why there is so much corruption? -mm