Public Force of Costa Rica

The Public Force of Costa Rica is the country's law enforcement force, which performs policing and border patrol functions.[1]

Public Force of Costa Rica
Fuerza Pública de Costa Rica
Agency overview
Formed1996
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionCosta Rica
General nature
Specialist jurisdictions
  • National border patrol, security, and integrity.
  • Paramilitary law enforcement, counter insurgency, and riot control.
Operational structure
Parent agencyMinistry of Public Security
Child agency
Notables
Anniversary
  • 1 December (military abolition day)
Website
fuerzapublica.go.cr

History
Cuartel Bellavista, today Museo Nacional de Costa Rica.

On December 1, 1948, President José Figueres Ferrer of Costa Rica abolished the military of Costa Rica after achieving victory in the civil war that year.[2] In a ceremony in the Cuartel Bellavista, in the capital San José, Figueres broke a wall with a mallet symbolizing an end to Costa Rica's military spirit.[3]

In 1949, the abolition of the military was introduced in Article 12 of the Constitution of Costa Rica.[4] The budget previously dedicated to the military is now dedicated to security, education and culture. Costa Rica maintains Police Guard forces.

The museum Museo Nacional de Costa Rica was placed in the Cuartel Bellavista as a symbol of commitment to culture. In 1986, President Oscar Arias Sánchez declared December 1 as the Día de la Abolición del Ejército (Military abolition day) with Law #8115. Unlike its neighbors, Costa Rica has not endured a civil war since 1948. Costa Rica maintains small forces capable of law enforcement, but has no permanent standing army.

Public Force of the Ministry of Public Security (1996)

In 1996, the Ministry of Public Security established the Fuerza Pública or Public Force, a gendarmerie which reorganized and eliminated the Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard, and Frontier Guards as separate entities. They are now under the Ministry and operate on a geographic command basis performing ground security, law enforcement, counter-narcotics, border patrol, and tourism security functions. The Costa Rica Coast Guard also operates directly under the Ministry.[5]

Outside the Fuerza Pública, there is a small Special Forces Unit, the Unidad Especial de Intervencion (UEI) or Special Intervention Unit, an elite commando force which trains with special forces from around the world, but is not part of the main police forces. Instead it is part of the Intelligence and Security Directorate (DIS) which reports directly to the Minister of the Presidency. About 70 members strong, it is organized along military lines, although officially a civilian police unit.

Its motto is "God, Fatherland, and Honor." Commissioner of Police Juan José Andrade Morales serves as its current Commissioner General.

Equipment

Handguns, shotguns and submachine guns

Assault rifles

  • M16A1 rifle – 5.56x45mm NATO
  • M4 carbine – 5.56x45mm NATO
  • SIG 556 – 5.56x45mm NATO
  • IMI Galil
  • FN FAL – 7.62x51mm NATO
  • M14 rifle – 7.62x51mm NATO
  • IWI Tavor TAR-21 – 5.56 mm NATO

Machineguns

  • M60 machine gun – 7.62x51mm NATO
  • IMI Negev – 5.56x45mm NATO
  • Browning M2 – .50 BMG

Sniper rifles

  • M24 SWS – 7.62x51mm NATO
  • M21 SWS – 7.62x51mm NATO

Grenade launchers

  • Colt M79
  • Model 2012Z
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See also

References
  1. "Costa Rica 1949 (rev. 2011)". Constitute. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  2. El Espíritu del 48. "Abolición del Ejército". Retrieved 2008-03-09. (Spanish)
  3. "Historia militar de Costa Rica revive con los 100 años del Cuartel Bellavista". La Nación, Grupo Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  4. "Air Advisors conduct first-ever BPC mission in Costa Rica". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  5. "Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas". Ministerio de Seguridad Pública Costa Rica (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 May 2020.
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