U.S. anti-terrorist unit is training Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo police

Police officers of the states of Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo are receiving training in critical incident management from instructors from the U.S. diplomatic anti-terrorist unit, with the training lasting from January 18 through the 23rd.

Agents of the State Public Security Secretariat (SSP) is taking a course specialized in crime scene investigation, security procedures in buildings and airports, and bomb detection.

In a statement, the head of the General Secretariat of Government (SGG), Roberto Rodriguez Asaf said that instruction is provided by agents of the State Department of the United States.

Inaugurating the course “Critical Incident Management” organized by the US Consulate in Merida and the SSP, Rodriguez Asaf declared that the aim is to strengthen surveillance operations and preserve security in the Yucatan Peninsula.

“The officers are taught to reinforce surveillance operations and to focus on the preservation of state security and of the whole peninsula,” said the state official.

US Consul General in Yucatan, David Mico, stated that public safety is a factor for increasing competitiveness in the state, and is vital for the well-being and development of the whole society.

He added that this program was created in 1983 and that the US government has trained more than 100,000 officials from 154 countries in these skills as well as on maritime safety and protection of dignitaries.

This instruction is given by specialists of the Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA, for its acronym in English) and agents of the SSP.

Sources:

• http://sipse.com/milenio/
• http://noticias.terra.com.mx/