By Wendy Anders

After police trade union representatives protested last week’s dismissal of 115 police officers linked to serious crimes, Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera reiterated his support of the decision, and stated that illegal acts and corruption in the exercise of public function are not allowed.

The Minister of Security this proceeded to remove from the public security force those who have dishonored the police with their complicity with various cases of drug trafficking, homicide, rape, sexual abuse, kidnapping and other violations of the law.

“I have given precise instructions to Minister Gustavo Mata so that given the acts as serious as the ones mentioned, the layoffs must be made to distance the police who have done a disservice to their duty, and to the many honest and committed police,” said Solís.

The notification process for these officials began several weeks ago. The termination of their employment is backed by Article 140 of the Political Constitution, which gives the power, in the face of loss of confidence, “to be able to freely remove members of the public security force, without requiring a priori dismissal process, or evidence of a justifying cause,” said the President’s office.