ICITAP
As part of a commitment to reform corrupt police forces,
USAID has partnered with the U.S. Departments of Justice and
State to work through the International Criminal Investigative
Training Assistance Program (ICITAP). USAID obligated an initial
$1 million for community policing work in El Salvador. Since
1992, ICITAP has worked in El Salvador to improve police training
and policing work.
Now, the National Civilian Police Force and the National
Public Security Academy are well-established and functioning
independently. Specialized investigative units within the
police force are fully operational, and the Inspector General’s
Office and Internal Affairs has begun to routinely investigate
citizen complaints and discipline officers. Modern emergency
response systems are being implemented in select localities,
and police personnel are increasingly receptive to learn and
apply more advanced public safety and investigative techniques.
These advances enable the government of El Salvador to more
effectively combat major crimes, root out corruption within
police ranks, and foster public confidence in the willingness
and ability of the police to protect Salvadoran citizens.
USAID later extended funding through September, 2004 with
a new cooperative agreement for ICITAP to continue to work
towards improving policing in El Salvador. USAID obligated
an additional $250,000 to improve leadership and management
of the National Civilian Police Force, to improve the information
management and technology capabilities of the force through
technical assistance and training, to provide additional training
to police and the Attorney General’s Office to enable
these agencies to improve the thoroughness and quality of
investigations and prosecutions, and to assist the Police
Academy to develop better curriculum and training.
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