Crime, Safety, and the Police

[TJnightwalker]

I am attaching a map (with poor quality, sorry) where I try to let you know the sidewalks and streets to avoid, to be careful and the safe to walk.

I will try a better map later.

[John Rain]

For lack of a better category, I'll post this here. I was down in TJ this Monday morning chatting with some Street Girls outside Hotel Venecia at the far end of the famous "Alley," when a women wearing some kind of "inspector" identification badge approached my friend. They spoke briefly in Spanish, and my friend handed the inspector her medical record book. This is the little book the working girls all have which shows their medical examination dates, initials from the doctor, and includes their photo and identification. Everything was in order.

Meanwhile, another inspector, this one a man, is talking with a different SG. Now this particular girl is pregnant and her condition is fairly obvious. She has a worried look on her face and she tells my friend that she is being taken away and asks my friend to take care of her stuff. They take her away immediately.

I could not find out what happens in a case like this, just thought it was an interesting event. I know the girl, but don't know the details of her condition, though I assume she has a boyfriend.

Here's a photo snapped the night before. I wasn't "with" her, but she tagged along with my girl for some dinner Sunday night.

[One Wing Low]

Was on my way back in my car around 9PM Saturday. All lanes were open. The lines were short, about 20 cars in front of me.

There were 2 border agents walking their dogs around the waiting cars. Suddenly one dog went bananas around a red BMW driven by 2 Asians in the middle lane. The dog was sniffing all around the car, at the trunk, the foot board, the window edges.... She would not leave this car.

The agent made a hand gesture with 2 fingers to the booths, spoke briefly into his mike and drew his gun. Very quickly 4 other agents ran toward and surrounded the car. They started to search the trunk and the car's interior while the 2 Asians continued to sit inside. The line is clear in front of their car. They could run forward but not backward. I felt sorry for the folks waiting in a long line behind them.

I kept craning my neck backward to watch the commotion as my car moved forward. I thought there was a 50% chance that the Asian guys may pull their guns, shoot everyone in sight to make their escape. I was ready to duck out of the car and defend myself with my tire iron. This was the most alarming incident in all my crossings.

At this point, I had to cross the border. The young agent went about his business casually but was obviously very alert and very tense. He looked at my driver license, then my face, and waved my through without asking questions. He could tell that I am an upright, law-abiding citizen. I could be counted on to defend our country when the need arises.

The border agents are well trained. They have lots of experiences as well as updated intelligence to deal with smugglers. Before trying to smuggle anything through the border, remember all the manpower, the experiences, technologies, dogs... stacked against you.

[One Wing Low]

October 27, 2005 latimes.com

Priest's Slaying Shakes Tijuana
A popular cleric's death, blamed on drug trade, gives the border city a record year for killings.

By Richard Marosi, Times Staff Writer


TIJUANA — The execution-style killing of a popular priest in an upscale restaurant district here has touched off an outpouring of grief and pushed the homicide rate to record heights.

At a funeral Mass on Wednesday, about 2,000 people mourned the death of Father Luis Velazquez Romero, 52, an outspoken cleric known for his social activism.

He was gunned down Monday morning in his 1993 Ford Thunderbird in a parking lot. Police found six bullet wounds in his head and neck, and his wrists handcuffed behind his back.

Velazquez's death, along with another slaying over the weekend, pushed the homicide toll in the Tijuana area this year past the record of 355 set in 2004, state police officials said.

The wave of violence in this sprawling Mexican border city has set new standards for brazenness. Masked, black-clad gunmen have abducted businessmen from popular restaurants in front of horrified diners. Their bodies usually appear days later, gagged and showing signs of torture. Many merchants are moving across the border to the San Diego area.

Several police officers have also been killed or targeted. Chief Homicide Investigator Francisco Castro Trenti escaped injury in a shootout a few weeks ago.

Police said the motive in the priest's killing was unclear but that the slaying bore the hallmarks of an organized crime hit.

The violent death of Velazquez, the corresponding sensational media coverage and questions about the police investigation have heightened a sense of frustration in this crime-weary city. Thousands have turned out at Masses to mourn the priest, filing into his hillside church to kiss his coffin and touch his white robe.

"This assassination has touched the most sensitive part of our society," said Carlos Medina Amaro, a longtime parishioner. "If they kill a priest, they can kill anybody."

Authorities said they were investigating whether the killing was related to the cleric's work and whether he was a victim of drug traffickers. Police said they were also taking a close look at the priest's personal life.

State police spokesman Filiberto Martinez said Velazquez was not suspected of being involved in narcotics trafficking, but that the execution-style killing and the .38-caliber handgun used were the calling cards of the drug cartels.

"Castro Trenti says this murder will be solved. But it's too soon to say when," he said.

The police statement inspired little confidence among residents. Some noted that many killings go unsolved and said police often claim victims were involved in the drug cartels as an excuse not to investigate the crimes thoroughly. "What are the authorities doing?" read a sign carried by parishioners at a funeral procession.

Most of the year's killings have been blamed on drug cartels battling for control of the trafficking corridor through Tijuana into the U.S.

Velazquez was described as a dynamic priest with a jovial personality who easily navigated Tijuana's disparate worlds of wealth and poverty. His role model, parishioners and fellow priests say, was Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, slain while celebrating Mass in 1980.

He was committed to social causes and founded an outreach group in poor neighborhoods. His sermons touched on current events and corruption, but he steered clear of politics, parishioners said. Many angrily dismissed media reports that said Velazquez might have been involved in organized crime.

Parishioner Gerardo Rodriguez, 49, said Velazquez was always on the go, fiercely focused on helping the poor, counseling couples, fundraising and building the church.

"He was mobbed up all right, mobbed up with God, and the community," Rodriguez said.

Velazquez, a native of Guadalajara, was a seminary student and missionary in Mexico City and New York City before he moved to Tijuana, where he became a priest in 1988. Within a few years of his arrival at the parish of Santa Maria Reina, in an upper-middle-class area in the hills above a country club, the one-room church overflowed with members.

Velazquez broke ground two years ago on a new church, and was only a few raffles and fundraisers away from the finishing touches: heavy, engraved wooden doors and two statues to flank the entrance.

[John Rain]

My first and only minor encounter with Policia in Tijuana happened in September 2005.

I was enjoying a Negra Modelo, relaxing with my Street Girl friend Monica in "Bar Salon de Baile La Gloria." La Gloria is on the west side of Constitución just before Coahuila. Monica was not interested in dancing, but I was attempting to coerce her into dancing with me to no avail. She introduced me to a friend of hers that works this bar. Her friend's name was supposedly "America," and Monica said I should dance with "America" while she stepped outside to make a couple of phone calls.

Okay, so I danced with "America," who was a bit older gal that I had never met before this night, while Monica left me alone with her. America spent most of the dance rubbing her loose, ample tits all over my chest. After one dance, I thanked America, gave her a dollar and sat down awaiting Monica's return. After about ten minutes, America asked if I wanted to dance again and I declined. Meanwhile, Monica never returns and I am becoming impatient and a little pissed.

Ten more minutes and I am pissed. So, I leave La Gloria, cross over to the east side of Constitución and hike up to where Monica usually works. I see her there talking to a man and I understand that she needs to make a living, so I walk past her and come to a stop near the top of the hill, almost at Primera.

I was standing outside a bar. I don't know the name of it, but my real purpose is to wait until Monica finishes talking to the man standing next to her. Now, this is late at night, perhaps 10 p.m., and this section of street is not particularly safe. Additionally, I have on occasion smelled the odor of pot coming from this bar in the past. But my focus is on Monica, and not at all on my location in front of this bar.

A Mexican policeman is patrolling and notices that I am standing here. He speaks to me in Spanish, but I don't understand. Then he changes to English and asks what I am doing here. I am a bit startled, and tell him I "nothing." This is a stupid answer.

The policeman gets more serious and asks for my identification. Yipes! I get scared and dig my driver's licence out of my wallet and hand it to him. He asks if I have any drugs with me. Of course, I reply, no. Then he asks where I work. I tell him, but he asks again. Then he asks again if I have any drugs and I figure I am screwed, although, of course, I don't have any drugs. I try to explain that I am waiting for my friend. Another stupid answer, although true. At this point, I am imaging some terrible scenerio is about to take place.

Meanwhile, my SG friend Monica sees what is happening and approaches us. She has a big smile and greets the policeman in Spanish. I don't know what she said, but after a minute or so the policeman hands me my driver's licence and explains to me that this is not a good place to be standing around late at night. I apologize and thank him profusely. Monica thanks him for "helping" me as well. I leave, a bit rattled, with Monica.

Monica explains that this policeman is a friend of hers, and that I was very stupid to stand on this street alone. She said this guy is honest, but some are not and that I am lucky it was him instead of someone else.

I took Monica back to my hotel and f-cked her gratefully that night and learned a lesson as well.

[One Wing Low]

Hey Rabo,

That's a damn good idea.

Wait for solo gringos and walk with them ,and kick the stupid policia in their brown asses.

WE COULD GET A PHOTO OF THE BORDER THIEVES SO WE CAN IDENTIFY THEM AND THEN CONTACT ONE OF THE GUYS IN THIS STORY... IN THE MEANTIME THEY ESPECIALLY LIKE TO PICK ON GUYS WHO ARE WALKING ALONE, I HAVE RARELY SEEN THEM STOP A GROUP, GUESS THEY PREFER LESS WITNESSES, YOUR WORD VS. THEIRS IF YOU COMPLAIN. I TRY TO WAIT AND WALK THROUGH WITH SOMEONE ELSE...

Tijuana Taking Steps to Clean Up Its Act, Officials Say

By WILL CARLESS
Voice Staff Writer
Friday, Sept. 2, 2005.

[Rabo Verde]

we could get a photo of the border thieves so we can identify them and then contact one of the guys in this story... in the meantime they especially like to pick on guys who are walking alone, i have rarely seen them stop a group, guess they prefer less witnesses, your word vs. theirs if you complain. i try to wait and walk through with someone else...

tijuana taking steps to clean up its act, officials say

by will carless
voice staff writer
friday, sept. 2, 2005

tijuana's officials, it seems, are fed up with the city's negative image.

in an attempt to clean up the border city's reputation as a hotbed of organized crime, prostitution and **** drinking, a team of tijuana officials held a press conference in san diego on thursday to present a more positive image of their city.

in addition to touting tijuana's benefits as a place to invest, to manufacture, to dine and to imbibe, the officials described measures that the city's police force has taken to improve safety for visitors.

these measures include a dramatic plan to increase tijuana police officers' pay by 100 percent over the next two years. less spectacular tactics outlined by deputy commander and chief liaison officer for the tijuana police department guillermo gonzalez include the installation of closed-circuit television cameras in certain parts of downtown tijuana and the posting of police at border crossings to turn away would-be **** drinkers.

the officials said they called the press conference to weigh in against some of the recent rhetoric that has been tarnishing tijuana's image. such rhetoric, according to alfonso bustamante, director of bi-national affairs for the city of tijuana, has come from california gov. arnold schwarzenegger, among others. bustamante said that tijuana has its issues, but he's working on them.

"we have a city that keeps on growing that has many problems and some deficiencies," said bustamante. "every city in the world has its violence, and we do too, but we are trying very much to fight that, to make it better for us, the citizens of tijuana and for our visitors."

the officials themselves, however, arguably offered more in the way of rhetoric than actual solid measures to combat security problems.

it was only when pressed about the actual measures they intended to take that gonzalez casually mentioned the huge pay raise for tijuana police officers.

asked about police corruption and the widespread problem of tijuana police taking bribes from tourists, gonzalez said the proposed increases in pay will go some way toward solving a problem that he recognizes is a serious concern for tourists visiting tijuana.

"we've been in this administration for only nine months," said gonzalez. "we're addressing the problem, we're taking forward steps to eliminate that problem and we're hitting it pretty hard."

according to gonzalez, the pay raises will increase the average officer's wage from roughly $800 a month to $1,600 a month. he said the wage increase will take effect over the next two years at a rate of a 4 percent increase every month.

a patrolman for the tijuana police department, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed skepticism about the salary increases.

"yes, it will help a little, but not much," said the patrolman. "it's not going to get rid of corruption."

the patrolman said that he had not yet heard anything about the pay increases. when asked whether he believes that they will materialize, however, he expressed confidence that the city will honor its word.

apart from increasing wages, gonzalez said the police department is also trying to make officers more accountable within its organization. he said that a complaints department has been set up to take "direct action" against complaints of corruption within the police force and to monitor individual officers who have been accused of corruption. he did not offer any specifics about how many times an officer can be found guilty of taking bribes before being fired, but said that some of the complaints received this year have resulted in immediate firings.

gonzalez said that recently officers have been stationed at the mexican side of the border to look out for would-be **** drinkers. during the press conference, he said that under-18-year-olds who were clearly visiting tijuana to party would be turned away. in a later interview, however, he conceded that police officers do not have the right to turn teenagers away simply because they suspect that they may get into trouble.

"we don't actually turn them away, we urge them to leave," said gonzalez. "we show them the way."

contrary to public opinion, gonzalez said, **** drinking is by no means accepted in tijuana. clubs and pubs that serve under-18-year-olds will be fined or shut down, he said.

the city recently installed a series of closed-circuit television cameras in the tourist areas of tijuana, focusing on the infamous avenida revolución. these cameras, gonzalez said, have already helped tijuana police track down several stolen cars and have decreased the amount of vandalism taking place in the area.

key to ensuring that tijuana is as safe as possible for tourists, said gonzalez, is cooperation and coordination between police officers in tijuana and san diego. he said the san diego police department has been working with officers in tijuana to apprehend criminals who have escaped over the border.

"the most important step that we can take is working together (with the sdpd) the way that we have done so far and just keep up what we've been doing," said gonzalez. "not to toot our own horn, but we've been doing a good job in taking the most steps possible to ensure tourist safety."

[One Wing Low]

Some mongers, who were searched and ripped off by the goons at La Linea Sentri, should be pissed of enough to find ways do them in.

Are we mongers so meek that we will just let the unjust harassment and rip off by these dumb policias go on forever?

The chicas would probably have good laughd and call these mongers losers for submitting to the abuses by the policias and not smart enough to stick it back to them in their stupid asses.

Some victims should gather evidence and witnesses and write to the TJ mayor and teach them lessons in civility.

[QUOTE=Conejito] The 'stop-and-search' cops at the Sentri walk-across borderline have now been there for a very long time. They are always the same 4-5 guys.
No one has ever reported them and therefore they have become established and aggressive at that spot. They will now stop anyone, no matter what you look like (usually men who are alone).
QUOTE]

[Heyzeus]

Hommies,

Is there a place stateside near the border to exchange dollars to pesos? And do they charge a fee?

There are many in San Ysidro on San Ysidro Blvd South of the Dairy Mart Exit off the 5. The ones that don't charge commission usually will have a sign out front. Do not buy pesos from anyone that charges commission since there are many that don't a charge commission. A good rate will be within 2 pesos of the going exchange rate. Right now the exchange rate at these exchange places is roughly $1 = 10.7 pesos so 10.5 pesos or above would be a good rate. If you buy in the US and more so in Mexico make sure you look to see where the decimal point is before buying pesos. Some of the rip-off exchange places will add an extra 0 or 2 after the decimal so instead of buying at 10.5 you're buying at 10.05 or 10.005.

[Conejito]

The 'stop-and-search' cops at the Sentri walk-across borderline have now been there for a very long time. They are always the same 4-5 guys.

No one has ever reported them and therefore they have become established and aggressive at that spot. They will now stop anyone, no matter what you look like (usually men who are alone).

Even though it is dark and scary-looking, I seriously doubt they would hurt or kidnap any normal person because that would stop their profitable 'business'.

Do not bring back Viagra or any other drug. Their searches will find nothing and most likely all your money will be given back unless you are drunk.

[Gropinator]

Hommies,

Is there a place stateside near the border to exchange dollars to pesos? And do they charge a fee?

[Thumperr]

Thanks to those that responded to my questions. Until now it was easy to assume that there was a common thread to those that were being harrased.

Next question for those that might answer. I have also started to use pesos during my visits in TJ. When they say four dollars, I whip out 40 pesos. Sorta boosts my spending cash. The only place I pay in dollars is to get into the hotel and into , well, you know.

It is interesting to know that this hassling can happen to anyone. I might not act with such impunity. I'll be in TJ next Saturday night, I'll get an update on as soon as I get back.

By the way, a "confession". I have taken to sticking with the same girl at AB for over a year now. I may even learn her name this time.

[Blue Nose]

Guys,

Just read a disturbing article in the San Diego Herald Tribune. Apparently, they have passed a law in TJ that cars cannot have tinted windows. This is to cut down on crime as a lot of criminals have their windows tinted darkly. Unfortunatley, a lot of regular people have tinted windows also. From what I read, the law will be applied to both locals and cars from the US.

If ever there was a law that was ripe for abuse, then this is it. That's because there are no set standards. You can have "some" tint to your glass, but it's basically up to the cop who pulls you over. You can bet your last dollar that a car with Cal plates that is driving in or around the zone at night will now be more of a target than it already is. Fine is something like $50, although I am sure that for gringos it is higher.

Another reason to leave the car at the border, unless you really need to bring it over.

If anybody has any experience on getting pulled over for this, please post.

Blue Nose

[El Juez]

I'm in the same category and general description as you guys. I've been going to TJ for two and a half years now and never had a problem. I passed those cops at the linea drop off point dozens of times with hardly a glance. But for some reason last month they decided to target me for a scam. Nothing changed in either my appearance or behavior. I don't know if it's a change to a more agressive, greedy attitude on part of the cops or not but I've been hearing a lot more about it recently here and on other sites.

[localbozo]

I also wear jeans and a long sleave tee shirt. I am 6'1" and 200 lbs. and I carry myself well and certainly was not stumbling or showing any signs of being drunk. I don't know if you should look the cops right in the eye or not. In America, looking away tends to be suspicious. In Mexico, it's hard to say whether you should look them right in the eye because it could be taken by the policia to be a stare down. I really don't know what's right. I'm sure it varies for each individual.

BTW, this is the first time in at least 40 visits to TJ that I have been harrassed by the cops. I've always believed it was safe and people who were hassled by the cops were "asking for it." Apparantly this is not 100% true. Maybe my problem was it was late and during the week and they just had no one else to pick on. It won't stop me from banging those chicitas in the near future.

LB