Mexican army takes lead fighting crime

General's detractors
Some fault him for failing to offer evidence when he names crooked officials. And Francisco Javier Sanchez, Baja California's human rights ombudsman, said it is illegal for the army to lead the fight against crime unless the government declares a state of siege, which it hasn't.

"The fact that (the army) is fielding complaints, that it is investigating, that it's detaining people on its own — all of that is against the law," Sanchez said. "There's a perception that (the army) is our savior. However, I believe it shouldn't be that way. The police should be doing this work."

But few in Tijuana look to the police for answers. Many blame low pay and death threats to any who dare to confront drug traffickers. Tijuana officers earn the equivalent of about $1,400 a month. Six have died on the job since December, each leaving behind a death benefit of about $50,000.

Some call for better coordination among disjointed civilian agencies or even a national police force. Tijuana's 2,400 police officers are the most visible presence, but do not investigate. Detective work falls to the state for murders, kidnappings and robberies and to federal investigators for trafficking in drugs, arms and migrants.

Others recommend a unified national database to prevent corrupt police officers from job-hopping after they are fired.

Alberto Capella, Tijuana's public safety secretary, applauded Aponte's work but said the army alone can't fix the city. He cautions that it will take time for the police to win the public's trust.

"We are fighting two wars," he said. "The first war is inside the police, and the second one is the normal war, outside on the streets, against crime."

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