www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Tomorrow is another (any old excuse will do) holiday here in CR. The festivities start tonight. Check out AM Costa Rica (link here on CRT) for explanations and schedules. The one thing that stood out for me when I read about it was that they will have 315 patrol cars and 266 motorcycles from the Fuerza Publica protecting the parade marchers. MAYBE ONE OF THEM COULD PROTECT THE GRINGOS ON CALLE 9 so we could have a few less muggings.

Yesterday on Central there wer 15 cute little K*ds dancing in celebration of the coming event. There were 15 cops standing around obviously assigned to protect them. Now I ask you: who is in more danger in the Gultch...the K*ds dancing around noon on central or the Gringos on Calle 9 at midnight? Perhaps they could just assign 14 cops to the dancing K*ds and one asshole cop with a machine gun to protect the Gringos.

Bob,

The cops are the sole support of their families, therefore can not afford to get hurt protecting gringos.

Six Costa Rican Police have lost their lives in the line of duty this year. In the states, only California and New York have had more fallen officers so far this year.

Pelo-
Interesting point. Anyone shooting a cop in the states has just got to know that copkilling excites cops, and there is a 98/99% chance(guess) that they will get caught. I'm not sure if this is true in CR--have they caught the people involved with shooting the two cops in Pavos a month ago? For what they get payed, I would be somewhat reticent to put my life on the line, but then, I have always been alergic to lead.

Population:

California 36+ million
New York 19+ million
Costa Rica 4+ million

Think the odds of being a police officer killed in the line of duty in CR is frightening.

Then look at what you get paid for taking that risk. Have no figures for CA or NY but know in South Florida cops make 50K per year without off duty or overtime. Think CA and NY are paid very similar amounts.. In CR, barely enough to put a roof overhead and rice and beans on the table.

Few things to think about next time you want to "bad mouth" CR policia.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

So what's the point here.Some of you seem to be defending the Police for the poor protection the Gringos have here in CR because they are underpaid. My feeling are that "if you can'r stand the heat then get out of the kitchen". Because they are drastically underpaid (which I agree) doesn't mean that they should run away and hide at the first sign of trouble. So are you saying that the Government is to blame for underpaying them and tolerating cowardly performance. Perhaps this is true,however I really think that the die has been cast with the existing group of police.I don't think they would change their stripes if they were given a 50% pay raise and ask to finally DO THEIR JOB. If machine guns aren't enough protection for them on Calle 9 then give them MORE MONEY AND BIGGER MACHINE GUNS.

VB,

A couple points from my point of view:

Security in the gultch and in other tourist locations is a legitimate concern and has been the topic of numerous discussions here. As you have noted over the last couple of months there has been more of a police prescence in the gultch--maybe not as much or as aggressive as many of us would like, but a step in the right direction.

The closer we are as individuals to a particular problem area the more importance it takes in our mind. As a result, we sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture and see our problem as having priority.

Yes, the Costa Rican police have big problems that don't need to be listed. A real solution will probably have to involve higher pay, better equipment, better facilities, more training and more top down accountability. Funding these changes is a problem for a cash strapped government in a country where most people avoid paying taxes and there remains a culture of corruption (not too different from the good old USA).

When we long-time residents receive the bill for these and other improvements the country needs in the form of changes in the tax system, I'll be interested in seeing the reactions.

BTW, your title for this thread is Dia de Independencia, so I was a little surpised to learn that it was Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most countries celebrate their Independence Day.

The AM Costa Rica article stated that the The Independence torch is carried from the Nicaraguan border to Panama. There are also numerous small parades throughout the country (two in my neighborhood in the last 24 hours). The deployment of 315 patrol cars and 266 may help avoid one of the marchers getting run over by a crazy driver.

Feliz Dia de Independencia a todos.

Pelo de Gato wrote:



Looking back on the comments made by the expatriate community when the Pacheco administration proposed taxing world wide income I think most gringo's would be outraged at the thought of paying taxes in CR.

My position, was and is, that I live here, use the infrastructure, benefit from the state monopoly providing cheap phone and car insurance rates, affordable health care, adequate public transportation, etc. so I should pay a share of the costs of providing those things.

I do not believe that "perpetual tourists" who seemingly are willing to enjoy the things the country has to offer but are unwilling to make a commitment to the country should be so quick to criticize. Costa Rica is a third world country with all the problems inherent in that level of development. Want first world services?. Live in and pay for those services in a first world country.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID,

Yes, I couldn't agree more.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

ID,

Starting salary for NYPD rookie is $29,000. YES, THAT'S NOT A TYPO. $29K

Thats true but like many things in life that is only half the story. The last contract between the City and the Police Union cut the starting pay so that the pay and benefits of veteran officers could be maintained.

The union was betting that given the higher starting pay in Nassau and Suffolk counties the City would be unable to attract sufficient recruits and would have to increase the starting pay. Had they been successful they would have won both ways. Protected the veterans and gotten rookie pay back to where it was.

Looks like they misjudged and the rookies are paying the price.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I understand and agree with much of what you long time residents are saying here.I am in the process of going through the arduous task of obtaining residency for much of the reasons here. Your arguements are all valid.There are problems all over the World similar to CR. However I still maintain that any one of us could resolve the issue of attacks on Gringos in the Gultch in one week,and at next to NO COST by simply re-assigning a couple of officers to stand on calle 9 at night heavily armed. Many would gladly volunteer for the duty if they were to get some form of hazzard pay. Pura Vida