public safety

Police, politicians join peach march

The march was held to memorialize two homicide victims in the community of La Chorrera.

VIRGILIO DE LEÓN/LA PRENSA

Hundreds marched in la chorrera1089717

Hundreds of La Chorrera residents joined in a march yesterday to demand the return of peace to the community following the murder of a young man there last month. The demonstration was organized by relatives of Ramiro Sánchez, who was found murdered in his home in Jardines de El Mastranto.

Local politicians and a delegation from the Policía Nacional (PN) turned joined in the march that started at 7 a.m. in the Plaza Italia and wound around the center of town to the Parque Feuillet. Demonstrators wore blue, a color chosen by the Jóvenes en Pro de la Seguridad Ciudadana to represent “peace.”

Members of the Moisés Castillo Ocaña high school band and other musicians followed the route, shouting “No more martyrs, we want peace!”

Francisco de la Cruz, the murder victim’s uncle, said the march was held to honor the memory of both his nephew and Ana Mercedes Medina, another La Chorrera resident who was killed on September 16, 2007. De La Cruz said that the aim of this demonstration is to promote peace, because ensuring public safety within La Chorrera is the responsibility of all the area’s residents.

“We pay our taxes so that the police watch out for us, but the population plays an important role as well,” he added. Alberto Barranco, a local representative, commented that the police could do more to beef up security during the night and early morning hours.

Police commissioner Marcos Córdova, who heads police forces in La Chorrera, said that his department has been putting into practice a number of security measures that are already yielding results. Last Saturday, for instance, police officers followed up on a lead and ended up arresting a suspect armed and carrying drugs.

Córdova said criminal activities will inevitably arise, but he hopes that increased efforts of the police will help maintaining peace and order in the community.

The police commissioner indicated that the criminals from the capital are responsible for most of the crimes that take place in La Chorrera.