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Uruguay The National Police
The National Police was established in 1829, one year
after
the country gained its independence. At that time, each
department was assigned a police chief, similar to the
system in
modern use. As of 1990, police forces numbered
approximately
17,500, a ratio of about five police officers to each
1,000
inhabitants. At least 20 percent of the total was assigned
to the
capital area, in which about one-half of the country's
total
population lived. In all, about 40 percent of the police
force
was assigned to urban areas, and the remainder were
assigned to
rural settlements.
Article 168 of the constitution gave the president,
acting
through the minister of the interior, responsibility for
the
preservation of public order. Article 173 authorized him
to
appoint a chief of police for each of the departments,
whom he
was authorized to remove at will.
The Ministry of the Interior had the responsibility for
ensuring public safety throughout the nation, except for
coastal
areas and the shores of navigable rivers and lakes, which
were
the responsibility of the National Maritime Police, under
the
Uruguayan Navy. Police training was centralized under the
administration of the ministry, which oversaw the
operation of
the Police Training Academy. The academy, established in
1936,
had separate schools for officers and cadets and for other
ranks.
The course for noncommissioned officers ran for one year,
and the
course for cadets ran for two years. The academy also
offered inservice and specialty courses of varying lengths.
Subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior, the
National
Police was organized into four operating agencies: the
Montevideo
Police, the Interior Police, the National Traffic Police,
and the
National Corps of Firemen. Each of these agencies was
administratively a separate entity, handling most
personnel
administration, including recruitment, separately.
The Montevideo Police had five administrative
divisions:
investigation, security, support services, intelligence,
and
legal affairs. Operationally, it was divided into the
patrol
services, canine corps, security and traffic bureau,
criminal
investigation bureau, and antismuggling brigade. The
criminal
investigation bureau was unique in that it conducted
operations
nationwide, not just in the capital area. The Montevideo
Police
maintained twenty-nine police stations, one of which was
concerned solely with urban traffic. The Montevideo Police
also
worked out of police posts in small towns and villages
near the
capital.
The Interior Police coordinated the activities of the
police
forces maintained by each department. The National Traffic
Police
controlled traffic on the nation's roadways. The National
Corps
of Firemen was a centralized fire-prevention and
fire-fighting
agency. Its personnel underwent basic training with police
personnel but followed up with specialized training and
career
assignments. Detachments of the corps were assigned to
police
forces in each department and in the city of Montevideo.
Two police paramilitary organizations were assigned to
the
capital area. The first was the Republican Guard, which
had some
500 personnel as of 1990. This unit was organized into
cavalry
elements used for guard duty, parades, and ceremonial
occasions.
When necessary, the Republican Guard was called on for
riot duty
backup for the regular police. The Metropolitan Guard was
responsible principally for guarding municipal property,
banks,
and embassies. As of 1990, its personnel numbered some
650. The
Metropolitan Guard was conceived of as a paramilitary
force and
was equipped with machine guns and riot-control gear. The
unit
was also charged with helping the police control
disturbances and
acting as a ready reserve for emergencies of all types.
Data as of December 1990
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