Costa Rica police rotation plan faces scrutiny and clarification

Costa Rican President Laura Fernández has ordered a rotation system for police officers, requiring them to move to a different province every three months to prevent long-term exposure to corruption and organized crime.

Security Minister Gerald Campos clarified that the mandate will not apply to all officers as initially suggested. Instead, the rotations will target directors, deputy directors, and officers currently under investigation for potential corruption, provided they have not been suspended by judicial or administrative processes. The Ministry of Public Security intends to accelerate investigations to ensure corrupt individuals are removed from the force.

The National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP) has called for technical studies and dialogue before implementing the plan. The organization expressed concerns regarding the operational, economic, and personal impact on officers, including family separation and increased costs for housing and transport. ANEP also warned that moving personnel without increasing resources could weaken local police presence and diminish officers' specialized knowledge of specific criminal dynamics in their communities.