The first members of a newly formed San José Security Council, a group aimed at coordinating public institutions to create a safer capital, were sworn in during a ceremony March 1 at the San JoséMunicipality, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.
Among those present were San José Mayor Johnny Araya, Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal, Finance Minister Guillermo Zúñiga and Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) Director Jorge Rojas. They represented their respective organizations that will make up the council, which also includes representatives from the National Police, Immigration Administration and Drug Control Police.
The council’s goal is to “ensure citizens greater success in the fight against crime, vandalism, delinquency, corruption, drug use and trafficking, organized crime, labor exploitation, sex with minors and family violence,” among other crimes, the statement said.
“There is a serious problem with security in San José that threatens not only citizens who live here and visit, but also threatens the competitiveness of this city as an urban space,” Araya said.
Berrocal concurred that the city’s public security is a priority, and called the council’s creation a concrete action to improve it.
“In public security … what people want are results, not words. Through this agreement with the Municipality of San José, we will work on one of the most conflicted areas of the country … the urban center of our capital city,” he said, adding that the idea is to create these councils in all 81 municipalities around the country.
