Cops to get slingshots-Give up firearms
TIJUANA - The drug cartels here are clearly Goliath, heavily armed with automatic weapons.
The municipal police, stripped of their guns this month as part of a corruption probe, are now playing the role of David.
About 60 officers were issued slingshots yesterday for use on patrols in the tourist section of Avenida Revolucion and the business district of Zona Rio, according to a police department spokesman. Some of the officers bought bags of marbles for ammo.
"It's obviously very denigrating to them to be carrying these kinds of instruments, but they have to look for ways to provide security for the public," spokesman Fernando Boj?rquez said.
Members of the 2,300-officer city police department handed over their firearms Jan. 4 to federal officials, who are investigating whether any of the officers or guns can be linked to organized crime.
Since then, the city officers have sought the public's support and engineered several displays of their displeasure.
Boj?rquez said the decision to hand out slingshots wasn't districtwide, but was something two police officials did on their own and paid for themselves.
While some of the officers bought marbles to use with the slingshots, others could end up using rocks, Boj?rquez said.
The focus on the police force is part of Operation Tijuana, a sweeping attempt to reduce crime that brought more than 3,000 soldiers and federal police to the area. The operation started Jan. 2, and the officers were relieved of their weapons two days later. It's unclear when they will receive their guns back.
Police, who say they are vulnerable without guns, staged a massive protest outside federal offices last week. Mexican media have reported police also were using baseball bats in attempts to detain criminals.
Anna Cearley: (619) 542-4595; anna.cearley@uniontrib.com
The municipal police, stripped of their guns this month as part of a corruption probe, are now playing the role of David.
About 60 officers were issued slingshots yesterday for use on patrols in the tourist section of Avenida Revolucion and the business district of Zona Rio, according to a police department spokesman. Some of the officers bought bags of marbles for ammo.
"It's obviously very denigrating to them to be carrying these kinds of instruments, but they have to look for ways to provide security for the public," spokesman Fernando Boj?rquez said.
Members of the 2,300-officer city police department handed over their firearms Jan. 4 to federal officials, who are investigating whether any of the officers or guns can be linked to organized crime.
Since then, the city officers have sought the public's support and engineered several displays of their displeasure.
Boj?rquez said the decision to hand out slingshots wasn't districtwide, but was something two police officials did on their own and paid for themselves.
While some of the officers bought marbles to use with the slingshots, others could end up using rocks, Boj?rquez said.
The focus on the police force is part of Operation Tijuana, a sweeping attempt to reduce crime that brought more than 3,000 soldiers and federal police to the area. The operation started Jan. 2, and the officers were relieved of their weapons two days later. It's unclear when they will receive their guns back.
Police, who say they are vulnerable without guns, staged a massive protest outside federal offices last week. Mexican media have reported police also were using baseball bats in attempts to detain criminals.
Anna Cearley: (619) 542-4595; anna.cearley@uniontrib.com
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PUT THE WEAPON DOWN OR ILL SHOOT YOU WITH A SLINGSHOT! 0 -
that's funny as hell. slingshots. ha. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by buschmaster
that's funny as hell. slingshots. ha.
They could cause a serious eye injury with those!
Best to just arm them with Tabasco and water guns. Perhaps this is an idea that will catch on?[;)]0 -
California is next 0 -
quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
California is next
Sadly, we probably all are.0 -
only if you let it happen 0 -
[B)]I dont know about you but I dont wana get shot in my face with a marble!!!!!!![xx(][B)][xx(] 0 -
The sharpshooter badge is a picture of Dennis the Menace[8D].Wish I could claim that as mine but heard it on KFI this morning 0 -
Yeah, its all fun- until someone loses an eye![:p] 0
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