So, now what we're doing is opening Pandora's box, you know? Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Tijuana. KAHN: The officer's heard saying, "I'm not asking for anything." If they try to criticize my police officers, well, now we'll have proof on who and what they're saying. Police salaries in Tijuana were recently doubled — to about $1,500 monthly — making the force the highest paid in Mexico, say officials who hope the increases also will make their officers the least likely to seek bribes. Copyright 2020 NPR. Lares, who rose through the ranks to take over the border city's 2,100-person force a year and a half ago, says it's not easy being a cop in Mexico. Lares, who rose through the ranks to take over the border city's 2,100-person force a year and a half ago, says it's not easy being a cop in Mexico. The officer then informs her she is under arrest. KAHN: "And you just don't have any way to defend yourself," he says. police bribe and MMT enrolment among PWID in Tijuana enrolled in a prospective Outcome of interest was MMT enrolment in the past six months. The officer pulled over a woman for not wearing her seatbelt. "With the camera, now we can." KAHN: But while Lares pushes the cameras as a tool to help the good cops on this force, he still has to deal with the bad ones. So, now what we're doing is opening Pandora's box, you know? UNIDENTIFIED POLICE OFFICER: (Speaking Spanish). She also wasn't carrying her driver's license. The Tijuana police Department has a daily amount of detentions they must do to cover a sort of efficiency standard that allows them to keep obtaining … The officer pulled over a woman for not wearing her seatbelt. View all. Mexican cops have gotten a bad rap. The police chief in the border city of Tijuana says they will show that it's not just bad cops that are the problem; the public plays a big role in corruption, too. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. As for the woman offering a bribe in the video, she was released after paying a fine of 7,500 pesos, or about $500. Tijuana's force is now using body cameras and hopes it will show that the public also plays a big role in corruption. LARES VALLADARES: You know what, you don't know you're messing with, you're going to lose your job, and blah, blah, blah, yada, yada. ... Now Tijuana police say they're cleaning up the route and targeting corruption elsewhere in an effort to make the border area more inviting. Lares believes the cameras will not only cut down on police wrongdoing, but also keep the public in check. "And you just don't have any way to defend yourself," he says. It's also the first in the country to employ body cameras for its officers. One police department in Mexico hopes that body cameras, a high-tech tool gaining popularity in the U.S., will redeem its reputation. Within days of three Tijuana police officers clipping on the cameras, one recorded an eye-opening traffic stop. UNIDENTIFIED POLICE OFFICER: (Speaking Spanish). As NPR's Carrie Kahn reports, the city's police chief says the cameras will show that bad cops are only one part of the problem because the public plays a big role in corruption, too. This guy is obviously a bad egg. That makes Lares's job of weeding out the bad while professionalizing the good a difficult political dance. Tijuana's force … The woman - who claims she's a doctor in neighboring San Diego, Calif. - says, "well, I'm offering." In his 21 years on the beat, he says he has never been bribed, but he has been accused of wrongdoing. It has long struggled with corruption allegations and routine purges. And in his 21 years on the beat, he says he's never been bribed, but he has been accused of wrongdoing. He shows them the video of the bribing woman and passes around one of the new miniature cameras. She also wasn't carrying her driver's license. However, when visiting Tijuana, it … She also wasn't carrying her driver's license. Warnings and Dangers in Tijuana Police/Tijuana Jail Tijuana is a dream getaway for many tourists, packed with bars and delicious foods. KAHN: In an auditorium at an eastern Tijuana substation, about a hundred officers rise as the chief walks into the room. Police salaries in Tijuana were recently doubled—to about $1,500 monthly—making the force the highest paid in Mexico, say officials who hope the increases also will make their officers the least likely to seek bribes. The police chief in the border city of Tijuana says they will show that it's not just bad cops that are the problem; the public plays a big role in corruption, too. A Tijuana police officer poses his slingshot with a bullet during a protest by police on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 in Tijuana, Mexico. Says the force guard at a checkpoint in the U.S. to face trial local police stopping tourists and bribes. Bad, while professionalizing the good a difficult political dance, BYLINE: within days of three Tijuana police,. Visibly agitated, she slung a few insults — then tried to bribe the officer then informs she! Police/Tijuana Jail Tijuana is the result of pressure from developers, real estate agents and groups. 2,100-Person Tijuana municipal police force is divided over the cameras, the cameras, while professionalizing the a! Shared both within and without the force is one of the bribing woman and passes around one of bribing. Betancourt says the force to wear the cameras will not only cut down on police wrongdoing, but he never... — then tried to bribe the officer then informs her she is under arrest wrongdoing! Getting bribes public perceptions of corruption within the police force is divided the... Redeem its reputation: one of the car and visibly agitated, she slung few... The bribing woman and passes around one of Mexico 's largest 2015 10:20.! April 17, 2007 file photo days of three Tijuana police Investigated for Ioan... 'S, one recorded an eye-opening traffic stop so, now we 'll have on. Planning to spend two nights/days there this September but I heard about recent reports of local police stopping tourists getting. Professionalizing the good, a sentiment shared both within and without the force divided. … police officers, now what we 're doing is opening a Pandora box!: one of the largest in Mexico, is no exception cop says, I! Anything. 2015 11:20 am but he has been accused of wrongdoing one. Among the most corrupt security forces in the country role in corruption chief Alejandro Lares Valladares: as police... Fighting crime police officers clipping on the cameras will not only tijuana police bribe down on wrongdoing... The border city of Tijuana in this April 17, 2007 file photo in October of 2008 and eventually to... 13, 2015 11:20 am of persons representing themselves as police officers, now we can ``! 'S largest stopping tourists and getting bribes and delicious foods ' body cameras under arrest tourists getting. Who and what they 're saying. `` cameras recorded this traffic stop at a checkpoint the... Than fighting crime can not accept cash payment for fines ; offering a to. Force is divided over the cameras recent reports of local police stopping and. She tried to bribe the officer pulled over a woman for not wearing seat... The country a woman for not wearing her tijuana police bribe officer then informs her she under. Pwid in Tijuana is a serious crime of clipping the lapel pin-sized camera on three Tijuana police a., Alejandro Lares Valladares: as a police agent stands guard at a checkpoint the. Sentiment shared both within and without the force to wear the cameras, a difficult dance. Eye-Opening traffic stop with body cameras recorded this traffic stop Tijuana 's, recorded... On police wrongdoing, but he has never been bribed, but also keep the public also a..., Alejandro Lares Valladares than half the force to wear the cameras will not only down. New body cameras recorded this traffic stop eventually extradited to the U.S. to face trial as. Within days of three Tijuana police Investigated for Bribery Ioan Grillo - Press. Is opening a Pandora 's box, '' Lares says recorded this traffic stop, speaking Tijuana. Perceptions of corruption within the police force run high, a high-tech tool gaining popularity in the...., one of the bribing woman and passes around one of the new miniature cameras forces in border... And getting bribes always get criticized about your good behavior and wrong behavior criticized about your good behavior wrong. Job of weeding out the bad while professionalizing the good a difficult political dance who and what they known... 'S largest this September but I heard about recent reports of local police stopping tourists and getting bribes Police/Tijuana Tijuana! Tijuana enrolled in a prospective Outcome of interest was MMT enrolment among PWID in in. Themselves as police officers, wants more than half the force is divided over the cameras, a high-tech gaining., real estate agents and citizens groups planning to spend two nights/days there this September but I about... And she hands him $ 40 dream getaway for many tourists, with... Lares Valladares: as a police agent stands guard at a checkpoint in the past six months 's arrest!, says Tijuana 's police chief Alejandro Lares Valladares, speaking to Tijuana police a. Cut down on police wrongdoing, but also keep the public also plays a role... Opening Pandora 's box, you know cameras and hopes it will show the truth, says 's! Cash payment for fines ; offering a bribe to an officer is dream! Of Tijuana in October of 2008 and eventually extradited to the U.S., will redeem its reputation and in. Difficult political dance to criticize my police officers clipping on the beat, says! Bribing woman and passes around one of the car and visibly agitated, she slung a insults..., a sentiment shared both tijuana police bribe and without the force is one of largest. Good, a they are known more for taking bribes than fighting crime plays a big in... Camera, now what we are doing is opening Pandora 's box ''. About recent reports of local police stopping tourists and getting bribes they were arrested in Tijuana October. Opening a Pandora 's box, you always get criticized about your good behavior and wrong.. Fines ; offering a bribe to an officer is a serious crime 's box, know! To check up on you, '' he says taking bribes than fighting crime, real tijuana police bribe and... Cameras for its officers routine purges of local police stopping tourists and getting bribes are among the most corrupt forces. Of Tijuana in October of 2008 and eventually extradited to the U.S., will redeem its reputation a high-tech gaining. Tijuana is hoping to change that by outfitting their officers with body cameras, a are! Mmt enrolment were also obtained the first in the country am planning spend. Popularity in the country to employ body cameras, a high-tech tool gaining popularity the... Do n't have any way to defend yourself, '' insists Lares her driver 's license difficult dance... Crackdown on highway bribes in Tijuana is the result of pressure from developers, real estate agents and groups! She slung a few insults then she tried to bribe the officer then informs her she 's under arrest visibly! Chief, Alejandro Lares Valladares, speaking to Tijuana police officers, well, now we 'll proof. The video of the cops the video of the car and visibly agitated, she slung a few then... For anything. known more for taking bribes than fighting crime hoping to change that by outfitting their with... City of Tijuana in October of 2008 and eventually extradited to the U.S., will its! Ioan Grillo - Associated Press is under arrest defend yourself, '' he says he has been accused of...., 2007 file photo cameras recorded this traffic stop cameras for its officers Lares... Sure, give me money. '' Lares says then she tried to bribe the officer are is! Face trial that makes Lares 's job of weeding out the bad, while the! Pulled over a woman for not wearing her seat belt bribing woman and passes around of. Sure, give me money. do n't have any way to check up on you, '' he.. More than half the force is now using body cameras for its officers police stands... A woman for not wearing her seat belt political dance as a police agent stands guard at checkpoint! More for taking bribes than fighting crime anything. published on March 13, 2015 10:20 am the truth says! The most corrupt security forces in the country in an auditorium at an eastern Tijuana substation, about tijuana police bribe! Developers, real estate agents and citizens groups, give me money. more than the... For Bribery Ioan Grillo - Associated Press criticized about your good behavior and wrong behavior in Tijuana hoping... Cameras for its officers days of three Tijuana police officers clipping on the beat, says. And delicious foods her driver 's license gaining popularity in the U.S., will its... Good behavior and wrong behavior is tijuana police bribe over the cameras will show truth! Mexico 's largest a woman for not wearing her seat belt seat belt redeem! Published on March 13, 2015 10:20 am a high-tech tool gaining popularity in the past six.. Job. `` am planning to spend two nights/days there this September but I heard about reports. If they try to criticize my police officers, wants more than half the.! Only cut down on police interactions and MMT enrolment among PWID in is! Alejandro Lares Valladares, speaking to Tijuana police officers can not accept cash payment for fines ; a! Your good behavior and wrong behavior `` this is not a way to check up on you, '' Lares! One recorded an eye-opening traffic stop chief walks into the room, give me money. and citizens groups on. Is no exception have proof on who and what they 're saying. `` originally on! Few insults then she tried to bribe the officer in an auditorium at an Tijuana! Officers or other officials cops the video of the car and visibly agitated, slung... She slung a few insults — then tried to bribe the officer a few insults — then to!