Comments on: Open Season on Cops?

By: Daryl

Daryl — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:45:37 +0000

I am a police officer from Canada and I have extensive training in use of force, officer safety and investigations. I along with my wife (a French/English high school teacher) are interested in living in CR. I know that my skill set can make a difference, the only problem is that it seems that CR only hires local law enforcement officers. Is this true or rumor???
Any info would be appreciated.

By: Steven

Steven — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:32:20 +0000

Im a Costa Rican and is a SHAME that crime rise like hell in just 10 years thanks to ex-presidents like Calderon who let everybody get into the country with no requirements so te drug dealers increase and now we have local “chapulin” near almost every community.
I just got a fight with one of those scumbags i he almost break my nose.Now im carrying an stun gun to go walk around the place i get attacked.

By: Doooglas

Doooglas — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:59:06 +0000

I prefer the term Idiocracy.
They’re also not issuing any more weapons permits for expats.
Welcome to Guatemala.

Eventually the expats will vacate more and more and all the Ticos in the service industries can go back to no refrigeration, dirt floors and cutting grass.
As one poster bleated. jajajajajajaja !

By: swampfire

swampfire — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:01:08 +0000

I have lived on the Nicoya peninsuila for two years. Montezuma, Malpais, Tambor are some of the towns where I live and visit. I can say from first hand experience and from talking to friends and acquaintences that we are experiencing a huge crime wave. The criminals are fearless, cunning, armed, bold, and relentless. Home invasions, muggings, car break ins and of course petty theft are common, the police and justice system are useless. Everyone I know has been victimized and almost every group of tourists has a horror story to tell. The ticos blame the nicos. The gringos blame the ticos from Puntarenas. The police stand on the side of the road looking for gringos to shakedown. Burgular bars, bright lights, alarm systems and mean dogs are necessities of life here. The politicians don’t care, they’re stealing too, Costa Rica is not a democracy it’s a KLEPTOCRACY!!!

By: Dbirder

Dbirder — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:20:57 +0000

JaJaJa, like …Gringo go home!..Maybe you should go back home for a while to see what your amazing EEUU is like, as it seems like you have been out of your “reality” for a while. Do read the real papers from back home, not just the bits you pick up, and try to be human and real for a change. If you think your so bloody marvelous country is so good, go back boy! and hurry!

By: Capt. Matt McCulloch

Capt. Matt McCulloch — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:36:26 +0000

I have been travelling to CR for the last 10 years. We have great memories, fishing, exploring etc.. unfortunatly the last four years have been marred by violent robberies. In 2007 we had a home invasion robbery where the bandits were armed with .45 acp weapons, very military or police like weapons. The intrudrers manuevered in a organized manner that led us to believe they may have had some sort of training. We were lucky in that we only lost some money and posessions. Last month we found 7 robbers at our friends home in Playa Bejuco. We confronted the robbers who were un armed thank god, we gave three of them a beating they will be lucky to recover from. We were eventually over come by the bandits and were robbed of some petty cash and cameras. This has got to stop, the robbers are in cajutes with the Jaco Taxi drivers, and Police. We will not be travelling in the future to Costa Rica, nor will we be recomending travel to the country to any of our friends. Pura Vida has become Pure BullShit.

Saddended and angry.

Capt. Matt

By: al

al — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:36:04 +0000

I was born in CR I left at the age of 3 returned at 23.Adopted from here I went to live in California.Of all places Los angeles “Gang banging capital of thee world”.Anyways to make a long however good story short.I got caught up in the gang lifestyle,needless to say it came with all the “perks”Incarceration time away from family etc etc.after being down here 3 years I realize its kind living out there “LA” in the early 90’s.Gangs are starting to become a big facture here.A Lot of the crimes here are happening with more than 2 perps at a time and obviously in my mind the crimes become more serious.I’m not saying all but a lot of these cops do participate in some time of corruption including traffic cops.i agree what a lot of people have say this is not a very same place and its really not looking so good in some places.

By: Bob Gieser

Bob Gieser — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:12:41 +0000

Tim

Maybe there is more of a latin cultural thing to Your “COPS Story” than we think. The Colombian FARC released three police officers yesterday and plan to or already have released a law maker and a govenor. The A.M. Costa Rica (maybe not a proper literary treatise on the subject) reported and named the govenor and law maker, but did not name the police officers. Some of thre police officers were hostage for 7+ years, I believe. The local reporting stated more than a year.

Some people in developing countries view the police as necessary evils. They need them to keep general order, rescue them from an automobile accident, their child from an abductor, etc. But when they get stopped for an infraction (speeding) they gladly offer a payment to make the situation go away, rather than be bothered by the alternative.

This may be why they are paid at the lower rung of the food chain in some cases.

Food for thought-No pun intended!

By: Sal

Sal — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:07:12 +0000

I live in Costa Rica, my wife is Costa Rican and my children go to school in Costa Rica.
And I agree with your sentiment that this is a great country. Having said this, Carcasss, while I just joined this website, and do not know Mr. Gieser (or you), I see nothing inflamatory towards CR in Mr. Geiser’s remarks. He is merely stating the truth – crime throught the world is on the increase. I just read today in AM CostaRica (amcostarica.com) that murder in this country is up 28% over last year. Moreover, I recently read a report confirming Mr. Gieser’s comments with regards to crime committted by the children of single parents. I was a little shocked, but it the fact is, 70% of all incarcerations are children of single mothers. I do not like this anymore than you do. You can google this info.
Again, I too feel that this is a great country, and can only hope and pray that the increase in crime, here, the US and worldwide takes an about face. But I suspect this will not happen until there is more responsible parenting.

Thank you

Sal

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:00:59 +0000

carcass,
I thought what Tim said was not inflamatory. It seemed to me that he is being protective of a peaceful Costa Rica. If what he says is the truth, do you want him to hide it? I think his warning that crime is creeping into Costa Rica is very constructive, and I didn’t sense he was putting down the country’s finest, but rather that the legal system seem to be going awry, as it has in so many other countries. We might not agree with the severity of hanging for hostage taking and stabbing, but what do you recommend, that we thank him? Are you related to him? .
Steve