Colombia’s national police have deployed 2,500 new officers and enacted a 24-hour helicopter patrol in Bogota to combat the recent spike in crime.
After a week of increasing crime, police chief General Oscar Naranjo deployed 2,500 troops to Bogota Monday and will enact a 24-hour patrol of major streets by two helicopters, reports Caracol Radio.
Naranjo says this force is needed to combat several street gangs that are causing problems for the Metropolitan Police in Bogota.
Naranjo told Caracol Radio, “It was time to stop giving excuses and to act with the tools we have: stronger presence in the most dangerous zones to fight the petty theft and to attack the pits of the sale of narcotics.”
Bogota has seen a rise in theft and violent crime in the past week including this Saturday’s robbery of a girls’ school by armed bandits.
The mayor of Bogota, Samuel Moreno, welcomes the aid from the national police.
“Despite good indicators and a reduction of crime, we continue to have high impact events that should not be happening and we believe it is essential to strengthen [the police] with 2,500 men, and the decision to have General Naranjo contribute to the security of the city,” said the mayor to Caracol Radio.
