BI-WEEKLY REPORTING CABLE FOR PERIOD ENDING 12/19/08 -

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001576 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP, DAS CHRISTY MCCAMPBELL AND AIMEE MARTIN DEPARTMENT FOR INL/RM, JAMES WALSH EMBASSIES FOR NAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL GT SUBJECT: BI-WEEKLY REPORTING CABLE FOR PERIOD ENDING 12/19/08 - NARCOTICS AFFAIRS SECTION - POLICE PROGRAM ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: This cable provides a summary of NAS Police Program activities in Guatemala covering the period ending December 19, ¶2008. End Summary. ¶2. (U) ACTIVITIES BRIEF TO DIRECTOR GENERAL: NAS presented a brief to the Director General of the National Police (PNC) and her senior staff regarding the projects that are ongoing or that will be implemented during FY2009. The response from the Director General was very positive and several of the sub directors are working closely with members of the NAS team to advance the projects. It is obvious that the Director General did not fully understand all of the NAS projects. However, once she was briefed she moved positively to make assignments and to follow up on progress. A monthly meeting has been programmed with the Director General and her senior staff to monitor progress on projects and to discuss new priorities or changes. ACADEMY: 9 PNC officers graduated from the 2 week long train the trainer course presented by NAS. The participants were carefully selected and included members of the Criminal Investigation School, PNC Academy and the Police Athletic League. NAS will do a second train the trainers course in early February at the request of the PNC Director. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION COURSE: 17 fully vetted investigators graduated from the Basic Criminal Investigation course and have been assigned to the Criminal Investigation Unit (DINC). CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION COURSE 2: 18 members of the Special Investigations Unit (telephone intercepts) of the PNC initiated the Basic Criminal Investigation Course and will graduate the third week of January. Following the Basic Investigation Course they will be given specialized training in Surveillance Techniques, major case management, undercover operations, and other matters related to wire intercepts. VILLA NUEVA MODEL PRECINCT: NAS coordinated assistance from the Mayor of Moca, Puerto Rico to come to Villa Nueva, Guatemala. TIMS: NAS instructors provided training in SIPOL and the use of the initial complaint form for the personnel of the new 24 hour court in Escuintla. This is a continuation of training that NAS has provided to all of the 24 hour courts. PRISONS: Don Stolworthy, INL Senior Corrections Advisor met with the President of Guatemala, Minister of Government, and the Director of Prisons during his 4 day stay in Guatemala. Stolworthy also visited 3 prisons while in Guatemala and provided the Guatemalans an assessment on short and long term goals for meeting the needs of a maximum security prison and improving the prison system in general. SEPTEL to follow. MCFARLAND