ABSTRACT
In Mexico, community policing is a relatively new concept that has been tried only in a few places throughout the country. In January 2005, a form of community policing was introduced into Ciudad Juarez in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. e citizens of this city, which has a history of murders and kidnappings, responded to the vicious rape and murder of two young girls by establishing an “elder police force” or Policía Adulto Mayor to patrol outside of elementary schools throughout the city (Rodriguez 2005). According to Rodriguez (2005), this unarmed police force consisted of 35 retirees who were 59 years or older and were selected out of 300 applicants. e 35 chosen retirees attended a 2-week training course at the police academy, where they not only learned techniques of observation, description, and basic rst aid, but also received some physical training. Aer completing the training, the group patrolled the city’s elementary schools during the week and the city’s three largest public parks on weekends. e members of the group worked in teams of two and were charged with alerting the police to any suspicious activities or problems. Each ocer worked 12 hours a week and received a $185 check and $75 in groceries each month. is group was intentionally made up of retired schoolteachers and doctors with the hope that they would gain the support and trust of the community, which the city police had been unable to attain because of their ineectiveness and corrupt practices (Rodriguez 2005).
