Physical fitness training paid off for an officer from the downtown precinct of the Tourism Police in San Jose as he made an arrest yesterday. According to a press release published by the Ministry of Public Security (Spanish initials: MSP), an unnamed Tourism Police officer patrolling the Central Park perimeter on foot sprung to action when he noticed a smartphone robbery, which took place in plain daylight.

The MSP press release explains that two officers assigned to the Tourism Police unit were conducting a regular foot patrol when they witnessed a robbery in progress: A woman walking down Central Park was interacting with the touch screen on her mobile phone when a man hastily took the device off her hands and proceeded to sprint down the sidewalk. The officers were on the opposite corner of the incident; one of them took off like a jaguar running after prey in Tortuguero and gave chase while his partner initiated radio contact with officers in contiguous perimeters.

In the end, crime did not pay for the fleeing suspect; unable to outrun the Tourism Police, he slowed down and was ultimately tackled and apprehended. He was marched back to the scene of the crime so that he could be identified by the woman, who received her smartphone and was very grateful to the officers.

The suspect, who was identified by the last name of Ballesteros, was caught in flagrante delicto, meaning that the victim and more than one law enforcement officer witnessed the criminal offense, he will be processed in a speedy trial at Flagrancy Court.

Fuerza Publica officers who are not assigned to the Tourism Police special unit tend to joke about their counterparts, often calling them “Baywatch cops.” The fact is that Tourism Police officers train alongside regular Fuerza Publica officers, and they often serve as their backup. As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, these officers have been injured in the line of duty while executing high-risk warrants in the slums of San Jose.

The mission of the Tourism Police in Costa Rica is to provide specialized security to both foreign and domestic tourists so that visitors can feel safe in our country. To this effect, these officers receive English language training, and they also learn about various foreign cultures. They also work closely with the community and with business owners who serve the lucrative tourism industry of Costa Rica.