Definitions of 'police' Webster 1913 Dictionary
1. (noun) police
a judicial and executive system, for the government of a city, town, or district, for the preservation of rights, order, cleanliness, health, etc., and for the enforcement of the laws and prevention of crime; the administration of the laws and regulations of a city, incorporated town, or borough
Of course I couldn`t exactly find the Mexican definition of the word. I think everyone has their own idea of what they do, or don`t do. Usually, when the subject comes up among my Mexican friends we all get a great laugh about the term here. Most people are fully aware that you can not trust the police, and almost everyone will tell you a story that has happened to them, or someone they know. Well, now I have one.... Sure to be my first of many.
The other guy did get out of the car, but it was only to have a cigarette.
Last week my inlaws came to my house for comida(lunch). Regularly we all get together, but normally at their house as my suegra (mother-in-law) and her family looove to cook. We told them a story about our neighbours house being broken into the night before. We laughed over the fact that 4 police officers showed up, and only one bothered to get out of his car to ``investigate``. The end of that story.
The next day.... We go to my suegros house, and they tell us this story. The day before, just after we all left their house for ours 4 police officers let themselves into their yard. How do we know, you ask? Their maid was home. The maid went to the window and asked them what they wanted? Apparently the owner of the house called and they needed to come in to check things out. The maid was very suspicious, and asked for the owners name, when the call was made, etc... Of course the officers had none of this information, but insisted she open the door and let them in. The maid advised them sorry I do not have the keys (we lock some doors from the inside here in Mexico) so I can`t. They said well let us in the side door, I see it`s open. She again advised no sorry, the owners only leave that door open for me to get to the laundry room, and I do not have the key to open the side gate. They asked a few more times, but FINALLY gave up. We think they were just startled that there was anyone at home. OR that their authority was being questioned.
What`s the big deal you ask?? That this is the second time it`s happened in about a month. These are 4 uniformed officers, in their cruisers coming to the doors, using their authority to rob from people. How f&*$d up is that??? You no longer only have to worry about the odd theif, but now the Policia. Of course there is no point in reporting them as who knows who else is in on it. Then they have all your information, and will make your life a living hell. EVERYONE says this. Heck, the last Mayor who was running for Governor was recently arrested on numerous counts of corruption. You can`t trust anybody.
I`ve said it before, and I`ll say it again.... Mexico will forever be a developing country until the day it has a law enforecement, and governement that can be trusted to do what they are supposed to do. Calderon, I do admire what you are doing, but this is just too big a mess to clean up.
****On a side note I do want to be clear. I do realize not every Mexican police officer is like this, but the problem is too many are. That is when you don`t know who you can trust. It`s really, really sad.****
14 comments:
I asked a cop one day, "why do you steal from people?" and he said that he doesn't steal, that people just give them money. I told him that sucked... and the cops in the States don't accept that. His answer:
They're stupid. Why not?
COuldn't be any simpler than that.
Sad. :(
There definitely seems to be a moral disconnect here in many people's minds about stealing or deceiving others.
A while ago a member of Saul's family was talking about a gringa who lived in Zempoala and hung out by the ruins where all the tourists were. She would tell a tale to the gringos about needing money to get back to the U.S. or something, and use their sympathy dollars to live on. I shook my head in disapproval and he asked me if I would be ashamed to do such a thing. Yes, of course! He couldn't understand why I would feel this way, and if he could speak English he would do it too and feel no moral perturbation.
Not everyone, but many would echo this man's sentiment. I suppose being raised in the corruption, white lies, and theft here makes one desensitized to it's moral implications. Sad, sad, sad.
Refried - amiga the only word I can use to describe that is pathetic. So sad, right?? Funny because that is exactly what a `mordida` is!! A gift...LOL!! Okay, call it whatever you want!!
Leah - There are a few gringos here who play the same game. Usually hanging out in parking lots and just wait to pounce on the next gringo they see to feed their story. So sad. I could never do it either. I`ve heard that many of them are criminals who escaped to Mexico to avoid conviction. How sad indeed. Also heard they use the money primarily to buy drugs. Very, very sad.
Every time someone pays off a cop, or something of a similar nature, they are only feeding corruption. When you grow up with it, how sad.
I have a friend from Guadalajara. She comes from a very affluent family. She says they no longer want to park in certain areas for risk parts off their vehicle will be stolen. My pt is... she said the first few times they`d go to the dealership to buy it, but then after awhile they gave in and started buying from the ``markets``. They had the money, but they gave up...Why pay $600usd over and over, when you can buy it for $80usd in the market?
Sad is right....
Well, I've come to understand that each neighborhood is "ran" by a certain group of people. So if you can find out who runs that particular neighborhood and report the police...they will possibly get in "trouble". But possibly is the word. So your right most times it much better to just mind to one's self. However, I do know that if you know the right people then your house is "safer" really? REALLY? It's all just wrong...really wrong. Backwards, all of it. I asked my hubs one day...who do we call if we have an emergency? He was clueless, well he didnt have a clue. In the US we call 911 for everything...well here...I'm not sure who to call.
hey where exactly doesn't your friend wanna park? I've had my damn side mirrors stolen off my truck TWICE!!! while they only cost 30 bucks apiece here in the US, the F*ING dealership wants to charge now brace yourself 300 dollars!!!! Insane? Yeah, I'd say so. We ended up buying our mirrors back from the same f*ckers that stole them from us in the first place, for about 100 bucks.
and now they're super glued.
How much do police officers make in Mexico? Probably not enough to take care of their family, not that I am excusing what they are doing. Most everyone in Mexico is having the same problem. NOT ENOUGH MONEY so they steal it. Rotten, rotten, rotten.
Well I must admit .. I've paid a few Cancun police after being stopped. A few pesos and on my way I went. I know it's the wrong thing to do, but I sure don't want to be hauled off to a Mexican jail. Be careful amiga .. lock your doors!
Sunshine - It's so sad, right amiga? I don't want to be involved with anyone running anything here! LOL! Good or bad, will get you in some kinda trouble. I prefer to just stay under the radar. To the pt NO one cares about me, at all. Heck, I even hesitated blogging about it... but who pays attention to this blog anyways, LOL!!!
Refried - AMIGA! I swear I was going to include that part in my story. My friend tells me she is sure they are buying from the exact same people who stole... how sad. I'll ask her which neighbourhood and let you know. OH and besides food, and housing...everything costs more in Mexico. Everything.
Rita - Amiga, thought that exact sentiment to myself a million times. You know what tho? If you are an uncorrupt police officer, and are approached by "said gang" to help a brother out for this much. You say no thanks, but try and be peaceful. What's next? They tell you listen, you either take it or we take your family. At that point I don't care how much money those officers are paid. They make a choice.... U know? I'm not saying what is right, or what is wrong... just what IS.
SAD!!!
ps.... they make about 1500-2000 pesos a week. :(
WTF??? Now that is a new one for me.Is there no end to the corruption in our beloved city? Years ago in my old apartment I caught someone trying to rob me while I was asleep. i scared him away and when the police finally came one of them tried to pick me up. I was still shaking over the fact that someone had been in my house while I was there at night and here this sleazy cop was trying to get me to go on a date with him. LOL
Ok Im so glad I live in a little non tourist town. For the most part the police here are pretty good. Of course we have police and then there are the transisto. The police do not pull people over for traffic stuff so maybe that has cut down on some of the bad stuff I dont know.
Refried - Terrible, isn´t it? However, I heard that is what the Transitos here make, and the Municpal make a bit more, and the Federalis´ quite a bit more? Always, hearsay as I personally do not know any!!!
Ashlie - Yeah amiga, I had no clue either? It is just so sad as any sense of security is now gone.
There is not one person I know that has lived here in Cancun that has not had their house or apt broken into at least once, but you are the FIRST to tell me they were at home!!! SCARY shit my friend!!! Can we say unprofessional and inappropriate? Lol!!
Amanda - You know the saying ´´More money, more problems´´... in the larger cities these types of crimes happen all to frequently. However, I personally do not hear much more than this... Poor Sunshine, Rita, and GringanMex ...they get the shootouts, and stuff! NO THANK you!
Hey, it's Tori..my ID does not work....
Are you sure they are police? I ask because I know someone that had the police at their house because their street had a suspicious "police" truck going up and down their house. Turns out, the Zetas have all the official police credentials and use them to get into peoples homes and rob them or extort $$ out of them.
Just thought I pass that along, as this could have been the case here. She was informed it happens ALOT!!
Tori - Only as certain as can be...I mean if the Zetas are driving around in police cruisers, wearing the uniforms...then how can we ever be sure? Again, SAD. Now your story makes me more frightened....
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