Sheinbaum: local security is the responsibility of states and municipalities
During her morning conference in Cuernavaca, President Claudia Sheinbaum was questioned about municipalities in Morelos where only four police officers serve the entire population. His response was direct: governors and municipal presidents must assume their part.
“Even with the entire National Guard, the governors have the responsibility of strengthening the state police. We need trained, trained, clean police,” he responded.
Sheinbaum recalled that municipal autonomy is in the 1917 Constitution. The federal government has strengthened the National Guard – today with 120 thousand elements and plans to add 10 thousand – but it cannot replace the local police forces.
“There are municipalities with excellent police officers. Others do not have enough resources, but even with the few they have, they must guarantee that they are clean and do local work,” he explained.
Regarding the arrest of mayors in Morelos – such as Jesús Corona Damián (Cuautla) and Agustín Toledano Amaro (Atlatlahucan) within the framework of Operation Enjambre -, Sheinbaum indicated that they only intervene when there are complaints and evidence.
“We cannot investigate all the municipal presidents. Where there is a citizen complaint or evidence, investigation files are opened and we proceed with a judge’s order,” he said.
Governor Margarita González Saravia reported that the seventh regional security meeting was held with Querétaro, Hidalgo, the State of Mexico, Mexico City, Puebla and Guerrero. He highlighted the coordination between the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, prosecutors and security secretaries.
“A strategy is made for crime. This has allowed us to lower crime rates and achieve important arrests, such as car theft, following up on gangs that operate in several states,” he mentioned.
The president reiterated that her government works at all levels: municipal, state and federal, but without replacing local responsibilities.
