Law and Order in Ecuador

 First of all, I am by no means an expert.  I have asked around to different people, and gotten different answers.  If I find out later, the information I have received is false, I will go back and correct it.  This is what I have gathered so far.

The area I live in is pretty safe.  Many reasons for this are explained in the previous post.  The bottom line is that the area, due to it's location brings in money - not just from the Ex-pats, who are carefully vetted, and must have a certain income to live here - but from the wealthy people in Quito.  The mayor is very pro-active - when a couple of people were shot in broad daylight, response was swift - he immediately flew to Quito for more National Police, which were expediently granted.  The irony is Quito is becoming more dangerous, and not granted this protection.  Cuenca, a mountain city of about 300,000 also has a pro-active mayor, and probably the largest concentration of ex-pats.  Police resources appear adequate in that area as well.  

My main question has been, what exactly to the police DO?  Because I don't see them doing things normal police do, like investigating crime, and going after criminals - mostly thieves, and theft is the main problem crime.  It appears they maintain a presence, monitor the drug trade - and intervene - not sure what the criteria for intervention is.  That appears to be the National Police that do this.  I don't see any city police.  Our apartment is right next to the police station.

To investigate serious crime, like murders, there is a group of detectives.  They seem to be separate from the police.  On the other end, that have what are essentially transportation cops - unarmed - that monitor traffic violations, pull people over, distribute traffic tickets, respond to traffic accidents, and on occasion, glare at motorists that are not stopping for pedestrians in the cross walk, and compel them to do so.

Given the sad situation of property crime and theft in Portland, I am fasinated to see how Manta handles this.  Because as I said, the police here are not focused on such things.  Instead there is a high level of individual responsibity, and there are very few guns.  All of the homes are gated, with barbed wire.  The business are constructed in such as way that it would be nearly impossible to break in - think lots of steel barriers, after hours.  As for muggings, if it happens in broad daylight in an area with foot traffic, the thief may very well be apprehended by other citizens.  For example, there appeared to be some sort of theft at one of the open air markets (this sort of thing is a reason y'all don't have photos at said market, as it is prudent to keep your wits about you).  Another citizen chased him on foot, and someone else gave chase in the opposite direction with a motorcycle.  They all disappeared behind a corner, so not sure how this ended.

At night, it is just expected you don't go wandering around outside.  The beach closes down, due to probability of being mugged - which become more likely without a mob ready to hold thieves accountable.  If there is some type of nightlife, you must take a taxi.  Brian walks Maya at 8:00 pm every night, close to our well lit, well guarded building.  

Speaking of our building, all of the buildings are responsible for their own security.  We have 24 hour guards, and a lot of cameras, which is the norm.  In order to access the beach, I pass through 2 heavy iron gates, which the guards are watching over the camera, and open remotely for me.  

Another ex-pat, who has a lot of security experience, was in on a transport of high value goods from Guayaquil to Manta.  Again, the company transporting said goods was responsible for their own security and it was transported under very heavily armed guard.  When they arrived in Manta, they were directed to a special secured cargo hold.

The same ex-pat was relaying an incident that happened in front of his condo, which is on a more secluded section of the beach than the one where we live.  He heard a man yelling at night, translated to something like "help" "thief" "need police".  Eventually someone did call the police, who showed up at their leisure, not impressed.  They relayed that they had encountered the victim earlier in the evening, and told him to get off the beach, which was closed at night because of criminals.  He relayed whatever the Spanish equivilent is of "fuck off", and they shrugged and went on their way.  They were totally unsurpised he got mugged, and they did. not. care.

There are apparently several different layers of police, but it looks like transportation cops and national police are the ones most likely encountered.  As I mentioned, the transport cops are unarmed - and some of the guns of the national police - if they have them, don't even have clips in them.  There have been protests a few months ago, and it is illegeal for both the police and the protestors to bring guns or knifes.  In a situation where it became too dangerous for the officers, they were simply sent home, which is interesting.  Their presence definetely seems to make a difference.  If they are sent home, people just keep to their houses.

People also just don't generally involve the police in much of the problems.  I'm not entirely sure why, perhaps because they know there won't be much of a response, but I have been told corruption plays a part as well.  I have my ears out, and will update (or correct) with more information as it becomes available.  Portland is dissolving under lack of police presence.  Ecuador seems to be mostly taking it in stride, which I find fasinating.