Mexico Begins Training Federal Police Officers for New Gendarmerie Associated Press
go to original February 26, 2013

MEXICO CITY - Military officials have begun selecting and training members for a new federal police force they expect to be on the streets by the end of the year.

Deputy Interior Secretary Manuel Mondragon says that 10,000 newly vetted officers will fight common crime in parts of Mexico where local authorities request them.

Mondragon said Monday the officers are part of a new gendarmerie proposed by President Enrique Pena Nieto. It will take several years to build the force.

He says the gendarmerie will not replace the federal police, who will be assigned to fighting high-impact crime, including drug trafficking and kidnappings.

Mondragon says the officers will receive military training and once that's completed they will learn about policing.

He didn't give any other details on how the officers were recruited.

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