Female police chief killed in northern Mexico

Female police chief killed in northern Mexico

2010-12-01 03:07:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Hermila García Quiñónez, the female police chief of Meoqui municipality, was shot dead on Monday by unknown assailants outside her home in Mexico’s Chihuahua state, local media reported.

Garcia was ambushed and murdered by a group of gunmen traveling in two vans around 7:50 a.m. local time. The police chief was killed in the town "Los García" where she resided as she was leaving home for work.

She was driving a silver Sentra and was about to incorporate to the Meoqui-Julimes highway when a group of armed men on board of two vans intercepted her and fired at least seven bullets at her. She was left on the street and the car with both doors open.

García, 38, was appointed as the police chief of Meoqui, a municipality of Chihuahua, last October 9. She had 90 police officers under her command.

The 38-year-old police head had to face critics from the local media which questioned her appointment due to her inexperience. During her short term under the leadership, "La Jefa García" as she nicknamed herself, never had bodyguards despite the current violence wave.

"Hermila García always demonstrated a great clear mind and extraordinary courage. We will remember her with her smile and joy for life. Meoqui is in mourning," said Meoqui mayor Salvador García Esquivel.

The Meoqui mayor added that the case is being handled by state investigators and was forced to promote Vicente Serrano, a former Air Force lieutenant, as interim police chief.

García was one of the two women on the helm of a municipal police force. Marisol Valles, a 20-year-old student, is currently in charge of the police force of Pradexis Guerrero in Valle de Juárez, one of the most violent areas of the state.

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