
I just happened to be in town when this HUGE funeral for the Chief of Police was taking place. Asking around, no one seemed to know anything. Nothing was reported by the San Diego Union. Mum was the word. Why not? It isn't difficult to figure out why Nancy Conroy's papers go missing around these parts, by golly, she was the only person who reported this. I'll give you the link, but I'll retype the story, because her site is a bit difficult to read.
ROSARITO POLICE CHIEF KILLED - page 11
Insecurity Threatens Tourism
"On Saturday night, June 16, Israel Karo Vazquez, Chief of Rosarito's commercial police was shot and killed while driving his truck through La Gloria, a community just north of Rosarito. This incident occurred just three days before the be-heading of three Rosarito police officers, in June of 2006. City officials have down-played the incident, basically refusing to discuss it, and most tourists are totally unaware of the event.
Vasquez had only been in office for one month. The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 pm. Vasquez was off duty and reportedly was on his way home to take a shower.
State police investigating the crime reported that Vazquez had been shot from a 38 Special handgun. Major Tijuana newspapers stated that Rosarito city officials were not talking, and the only comments to come from the Mayor's office were, "we regret the loss of our friend".
Some information began to circulate that perhaps Vazquez was shot by a passenger in a truck. Most of La Gloria is a busy congested area, and it is likely that there were witnesses, but none have stepped forward to make a statement.
Alfredo Perez Hernandez, Rosarito's Chief of Public Security, said that Federal Police were investigating the crime. Perez also pointed out that the officer was not wearing his uniform and that the incident occurred outside of Rosarito's city limits, implying that perhaps the shooting was not connected to police work and could have been a personal matter.
The shooting has brought security issues to the forefront of the current election, and all the major political parties are claiming that security is their number one priority.
Funeral services for Vazquez were held on Monday, June 18, at the Nuestra Senora de Fatima Catholic Church in downtown Rosarito. Father Landa presided over the services, and a nun blessed the coffin at the end of the ceremony.
Rosarito's Mayor Anonio Macias did not attend the funeral services, but he was present at the burial.
Former municipal policeman Eduardo Arreola Rodriquez has now been appointed to the position as Rosarito's new Chief of Commercial Police."
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Thank you for that, Nancy. What she didn't mention is that this is the second Chief of Police of Rosarito murdered within the last two years:
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The frontpage questions why surfers have not been coming down here. Knowing surfers, it is doubtful that this is due to confusion over passports requirements. The word is out; it is just too unsafe, period. The violent assault on tourists over the last two years has been widely publicized - and quite frankly, Baja , the Baja we used to know and love for wide open spaces and starry nights is a thing of the past. The constant police shake downs, the kidnappings, the armed robberies, the carjackings, the murders, the overcrowding, the outrageous development, the pollution and the hustle of the touristas just make most surfers shake their heads and say, "later, it ain't worth it."
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See you guys later.
Goodnight, from Baja California.
Labels: ROSARITO POLICE CHIEF KILLED SSSHHH