Mexico

Police chief resigns in order to stop more cop killings

Article published on the 2009-02-21 Latest update 2009-02-21 10:00 TU

A soldier walks past a bullet-riddled truck at the scene of a murder in Ciudad Juarez
(Credit: Reuters)

The police chief of Ciudad Juarez, one of Mexico's deadliest cities, stepped down late Friday after criminal gangs threatened to kill a police officer every 48 hours until he resigned. A police officer and jail guard were killed Friday before he announced his decision. The northern city of Ciudad Juarez is grappling with gang-controlled drug violence. It is on the drug trafficking route to the US.

Roberto Orduna said that he did not want to jeopardize any more lives in crime enforcement.

Mayor Jose Reyes had said that the local government would not back down to criminal gangs, but after the two murders, he said that Orduna's resignation was the only way to stop the violence.

Orduna took the job last May after his predecessor had to flee to the US to escape being murdered himself.

Police were on high alert after criminal gangs Wednesday taped handwritten mesages to the doors of businesses in Ciudad Juarez, warning that at least one law enforcement authroity would be killed every 48 hours until Orduna stepped down.

The two men who were killed Friday had notes taped to their body that said that they were the fulfillment of the threats made Wednesday.

More than 1,000 people, including 50 police officers have been killed in Ciudad Juarez over the past year as drug gangs fight on the streets of the city for more territory.