La Paz Mayor Milena Quiroga Romero presented her administration’s security strategy at the “Attention to Causes for Peace” forum in Baja California Sur, outlining investments in police capacity, community programs, and domestic violence response. The presentation aligned the city’s approach with President Claudia Sheinbaum’s National Security Strategy 2024-2040.
Quiroga cited specific numbers across several categories. On the policing side, the municipality has delivered 40 new patrol vehicles, hired 154 new officers, and given 828 municipal police a 43% pay raise. The city also deployed 11 specialized “Violeta” patrol units focused on gender-based violence.
Community Programs and Park Renovations
Beyond policing, the mayor pointed to community-level investments as part of a prevention-first strategy. The city has renovated more than 60 public parks and established 128 community activity hubs that serve roughly 26,000 young people. The Mesa Violeta program, a domestic violence support initiative, has provided services to more than 4,700 women and children.
The forum’s framing around “causes for peace” reflects the Sheinbaum administration’s broader national approach, which emphasizes addressing root causes of crime through social programs rather than relying solely on enforcement. Quiroga’s presentation positioned La Paz’s local spending as consistent with that federal framework.
No Crime Data Presented
Notably absent from the mayor’s presentation were actual crime statistics or any independent assessment of whether these investments have reduced violence. The figures shared were all input metrics: money spent, officers hired, parks renovated. No outcome data on crime rates, response times, or clearance rates was included.
That gap matters in La Paz, where residents and visitors have noted a mixed security picture in recent years. The BCS state capital has long been considered one of Mexico’s safer cities, but concerns about periodic violence have surfaced. Quiroga recently met with Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, to review the national security strategy’s progress in La Paz, according to separate reporting.
The 43% police pay raise is a significant figure in a city where officer retention has been an ongoing challenge. At current exchange rates, municipal police salaries in Mexican cities of La Paz’s size typically range from 12,000 to 18,000 pesos per month (roughly $670 to $1,000 USD), though the city did not disclose the new base salary.
Originally reported by BCS Noticias.