Lack of professional projection, increased working hours, and the stress caused by changes in functions due to the social outburst are some of the reasons why a significant number of Carabineros have decided to leave the institution in the last year. “The social crisis hastened my departure from Carabineros. I didn’t talk to anyone, my family or my friends, I just felt it was time to do it. and I did,” says a former officer whose testimony was picked up by The Third.
According to the data recorded in the quarter between October and December of this year, 146 personnel left the institution. More than in the same period of 2018 when 118 police officers requested to leave the institution. This means an increase of 23.7%, most of them in the Metropolitan Region with 65 cases.
However, from a document prepared by the institution during 2018, a total of 605 Carabineros left the police while last year 2019, a total of 659 troops left their posts. Whereas only last month 27 Carabineros left the institution. “Voluntary withdrawals or waiver filings are given for various reasons, which are described as personal. Still, we are always monitoring this situation,” said Colonel José Muñoz Parra, director of People Management of Carabineros.
While in government they consider the number of waivers to be low. “As a government, we believe it is essential to give more protection and support to those who exercise the police function, as is the case in the most advanced democracies. A well-protected policeman can better protect citizens’ rights,” said Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel.
