Durango, Dgo.- The US Consul General in Monterrey, Joseph M. Pomper , inaugurated this week the Police Professionalization Program of the Merida Initiative in Durango. The delegation of US Consulate officials traveled to the city of Durango with the aim of strengthening ties between the state and diplomatic representatives and perform various bilateral activities.
The Embassy of the United States officially launched the National Program for Professionalization State and Municipal Police of the Merida Initiative in four states – Queretaro, Guanajuato, Durango and Chihuahua. This program supports the efforts of the government of Mexico to train members of the police and ensure that they receive basic training to prepare them to fulfill their responsibilities under the new criminal justice system.
The National Program for Professionalization Police Merida Initiative supports the creation of strategies and approval of personnel selection and approval of measures of selection, recruitment, training, modernization, specialization, analysis and recognition of security institutions in the three branches of government. One goal of the program is to strengthen the powers of the police in regard to its role as a first responder on the scene, training them in the use of tools and knowledge to properly execute functions such as the preservation of the scene, obtaining preliminary data, report development and participate as witnesses as set forth in adversarial criminal justice system. The program has specialized in this area and employ a scheme that promotes the standardization of procedures based on international best practice instructors.
«The United States and Mexico work closely together through the Merida Initiative has been the framework of bilateral cooperation that has enabled us to strengthen and implement efforts to combat transnational crime,» said the Head of Unit of the Secretariat of Government Interior, David Garay Maldonado. «The launch of the National Program of professionalization for State and Municipal Police Merida Initiative is a wonderful example of what we can achieve when we work together and represents the first step in creating a professional force of law and order in Mexico.»
The Merida Initiative has allocated $ 250 million to this effort, in addition to more than $ 100 million applied to train and build capacity at the state level of the judicial police.
Subsequently, the Consul Pomper presented a donation of nearly $ 40,000 for the state of Durango in furniture, appliances and diesel generators to be administered by state Civil Protection. This donation was made possible by resources of the Northern Command of the United States (United States Northern Command / USNORTHCOM) and will benefit a government hostel. In ceremony, the Consul Pomper said, «The ceremony today is a wonderful example of cooperation and friendship between the governments and the people of Mexico and the United States. The General Consulate of the United States in Monterrey and the Northern Command of the United States has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the State of Durango, through projects such as the donation of fire trucks and equipment, and look forward to continue this relationship through future activities. »
In addition, the Consul General Pomper and his entourage met with the staff of the Governor, Jorge Herrera Caldera, and the Secretary of Education, Hector Vela Valenzuela who addressed the issue of children born in the United States living in Mexico, their status in Mexico, guidance document citizenship and registration with local educational institutions, as well as the agenda item temporary working visa H2, which offers opportunities for foreigners to work in agriculture, construction and other seasonal jobs in the United States.
Before leaving the city, Joseph Pomper said: «In my nearly three years in this region, I am proud that I lead representation has reconnected with this state of our consular district. The links we have forged beyond trade relations, visas and culture and include a broader relationship between the United States and Durango. This being my last visit to Durango before the end of my position as Consul General in Monterrey (August 2015), I want to thank them for their kindness, warmth, hard work and available for all our projects together; I really felt at home. Thank you, Durango! »
The district of the Consulate in Monterrey includes five Mexican states: Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas and provides consular services to both Mexicans and Americans who live in this area so the Consulate performs telecoms regulators visits over year to these states.
