Three Mexico Institute Board Members were featured in a New York Times story highlighting the commitment of the business community in Monterrey, Mexico to help recruit vetted police forces, build confidence in state law enforcement institutions, and ensure stability and safety in Mexico’s industrial capital.
The New York Times, 1/10/2012
"… As part of its effort to contain the criminal violence that has shocked this prosperous city, the state government wants to recruit and train 14,000 new, uncorrupted police officers by 2015. With its not-so-subtle suggestion that you, too, can look this good, the sign urges, “We Need You.”
It is no coincidence that the state government of Nuevo León is using the language of marketing to build its new police force. Behind much of its effort to restore stability are Monterrey’s captains of industry…
“I confess and make mea culpa that we woke up late,” said José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, the chief executive of Femsa, one of the world’s largest Coca-Cola bottlers and a big Mexican retailer.
Mr. Fernández and other business executives are now in the thick of efforts to recover the city’s peace. Their companies helped design the advertising image and campaign for the new state police force, and they are staffing recruiting booths and a call center. They are also paying part of the cost of government redevelopment plans, injecting money into community groups and sponsoring school programs."
Read full article here.