Posted on 06/08/2005 8:29:15 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
NUEVO LAREDO - A day before city officials were expected to choose a new police chief, Nuevo Laredoans marked the death of homicide victim No. 59.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire near the corner of Héroes de Nacataz and Insurgentes at about 1:15 p.m. Tuesday. When officers arrived, a neighbor led them to the 400 block of Héroes de Nacataz, where they found a man who apparently had been shot dead. The victim, who was believed to be between 20 and 25, has not been identitifed.
With a skyrocketing number of homicides as well as increasing numbers of burglaries, armed robberies and kidnappings, many in the city are looking for new leadership in law enforcement.
They could see it today.
Three finalists have made the list for police chief; their credentials were reviewed by the City Public Safety Commission headed by Councilman Leopoldo Ramos on Tuesday and a final decision is expected at today's city council meeting.
The three candidates are:
Alejandro Domínguez Coello, formerly of the federal attorney general's office, is a businessman and president of the Chamber of Commerce.
Julio César Vargas Barrera, who has law and criminology degrees, was police chief during the administration of Horacio Garza Garza, from 1999-2001.
Omar Pimentel, director of the police academy, was previously a federal highway officer. He started working for the city in January.
Ramos said all three men have passed background checks, and they are qualified for the position. "We are confident that the man we name (as chief) will be able to bring peace to the city," Ramos said. "We need safety. That's what the people are demanding."
Each of the applicants submitted a plan for restoring order to the city; Ramos declined to discuss details of those plans.
Later Tuesday, Domínguez Coello said he wants the job, but that he understands Pimentel is favored for the position.
Domínguez said the continuing crime problem is pushing Nuevo Laredo to the brink of catastrophe. He said that there has been little progress in the last few weeks, and the immediate concern is the battle between the organized criminal gangs.
To handle that, he said, police officers and supervisors must be careful to remain unbiased.
"If police officials follow a straight line, not taking sides, (the gangs) will respect the officials," he said.
Domínguez said his family doesn't want him to take the job if it's offered.
"They tell me it's dangerous, that I could end up as a target," he said. "I explained to my family that this is primarily an administrative position."
He indicated, however, that he doesn't expect to win the post.
"What prompted me to participate is the need to improve the safety of Nuevo Laredo," he said. "It doesn't matter who's picked. He must receive support to help Nuevo Laredo progress."
(You can reach Miguel Timoshenkov at (956) 728-2583 or timo1@lmtonline.com. Vicente Rangel contributed to this report.)
Hope they take the side of law and order!
I saw on TXCN that a Dallas Man has now been missing for 8 Days in Nuevo Laredo. They think he,too, was kidnapped.
I don't think he was with the two Dallas men whose families supposedly paid ransoms for their return last week.
I hope the Police Chief, whoever it is, has a paid up life insurance policy as I think their family will soon be collecting on it.
NL Police Chief Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
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