Looking out for your own - Community Policing

Written by Michelle Newlands
February 2009

In several municipalities in Mexico, where money is scarce and security is scarcer, communities are developing their own version of community policing with some measure of success, says one human rights activist.
Over 10 municipalities in Mexico are implementing this new program as part of a larger effort to be independent and to protect their communities. Many rural communities in Ontario use community policing as a method of providing security to isolated areas where police are unable to patrol on a regular basis. It also become a meaningful outreach program for the police and keep residents feeling safe, as well as allowing them to participate in their own security.
Juan Manuel Zarragosa, a human rights activist in Mexico and member of ‘the people of Yautepec’ met with Belleville students of Quest Internacion to introduce them to the concept of community policing Mexican style.
Community policing is when the residents chooses not to rely solely on a regular police presence but on the people living within the village. Community policing is when certain members of the community dedicate their time to monitoring their village and preventing crime. Community Police do not have an income, but receive food from members of the community instead. Villages who have implemented this movement say a reduction in crime is clearly evident, Zarragos said.
The movement began with the idea of trying to recreate the traditional essence of community involvement and participation. The principle is one of self-help, where residents take responsibility for themselves rather than relying on others outside the community. He also alleged when a family would report a crime, such as a robbery or rape, some police would demand money in order to investigate the incident, saying they had no money for gas. Some of the times it was legitimate, other times it went into their pocket. There was also very little trust in the police officers. Zarragos referred to a saying, “When the police come, everything goes downhill.”
Complaints were made to the Governor of Mexico and, to their surprise, he agreed with them. Money was given to buy weapons to protect their own communities. In some extreme cases, cities and villages, such Chiapas, the police are banned from the city and can only enter when given proper approval.
When criminals are detained by the Community Police, Zarragos said their sentence is more similar to rehabilitation than prison. The criminals are fed, housed and treated with rights and respect. The sentence is often community service, where they pay for their crime by doing labour for the community. When their sentence is up, the Community Police present them back to their family in a ceremony like setting in front of the entire community. The Community Police ask the parents to ask their children if they were beaten, starved and treated fairly while detained. The Community Police want all people of their village to know they treat all people within the community with respect and dignity, even criminals.
The reason his involvement is not easy work, and his motivation is his daughter, Zarragos said.
“Sometimes I worry... I want her to be safe,” he says. “[This work] is something that comes from my heart.”
He said the role of Community Police is to protect, listen and share; to make visible the invisible.
He also said it is a luxury to call something a success, and success is not necessarily something the movement is interested in.
“Who can measure success? It is about how happy we are,” he said. “Success could be the level of confidence within a community... when things are progressing. It’s about getting up and doing something different,” he said.