During the morning press conference that took place on Wednesday, February 26, Baja Californian Governor Marina del Pilar, accompanied by the Secretary of Public Security, Laureano Carrillo Rodríguez, presented a renewed security strategy for the state, divided into five main pillars: addressing root causes; institutional strengthening; statewide deployment of units; information and transparency; and finally, human resources.
In these pillars, several key points to improve security in Baja California were highlighted. One of its most important aspects is the support for federal and state social programs, recognizing their importance in crime prevention.
The strengthening of Escuadrón Violeta (Violet Squad) and the promotion of projects such as “Virtud” and “Reconectar were also mentioned. The Secretary of Public Security stated that community policing strategies are planned to strengthen ties between the police and the community.
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Strengthening of State Police with Acquisition of Weapons and Patrol Vehicles Announced
Regarding institutional strengthening, an increase in the number of patrol vehicles for security forces is planned. The goal is to reach 100 patrol vehicles and acquire 700 weapons, although no specific timeline for the purchase was provided.
The acquisition of drones and GPS systems will also be key to this strengthening, as will the permanent presence of police in San Quintín and San Felipe, where stations and command posts will be established. The governor also emphasized that coordination with Baja California Sur and Sonora will be strengthened, aiming to sign agreements that enhance security
Anti-Extortion Squad to Be Implemented in Baja California
The Secretary of Public Security also mentioned during this morning press conference that an anti-extortion squad will be launched in the state starting next week as part of this new security strategy, with the goal of addressing incidents.
Operations will begin in the city of Ensenada in coordination with the Secretariat of the Navy. The port is a priority due to illegal activities related to the fishing industry.
“We will establish an anti-extortion squad (…) the strategy is to cover all municipalities. We would like to have a larger force to combat crimes, but it will begin in Ensenada,” he stated.
Responsible Citizen Reporting Promoted
The “La seguridad somos todos y todas” (We Are All Security) campaign, which promotes reporting by calling 911 for emergencies and 089 for anonymous tips, was also discussed.
Its purpose is to directly address criminal incidents reported inside and outside commercial spaces and to encourage a culture of reporting. Additionally, alarm buttons and violet buttons, together with a direct connection of surveillance cameras to the Security Center (CS), will all be implemented.
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Coordination with the Federal Government in “Sí al desarme, sí a la paz” Campaign
The government of Baja California is also joining the “Sí al desarme, sí a la paz” (Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace) federal project, which allows citizens to exchange weapons for financial incentives without facing investigations or legal repercussions.
The campaign is designed to remove weapons from neighborhoods and prevent loss of life. The payment scale establishes that up to 20,000 pesos will be offered for long weapons and 3,000 pesos for short weapons, depending on the condition of the surrendered firearm, as announced during the governor’s morning press conference. With these actions, the government of Baja California seeks a coordinated approach to improving security.
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