Arbitrary arrests and the excessive use of force continue to be the main causes of complaints against security forces in Zacatecas, where the State Human Rights Commission (CDHEZ) has accumulated 52 cases against municipal police officers and a total of 145 related to security forces so far in 2016.
The issue gained renewed prominence following events in Morelos, where residents occupied the municipal hall to demand the release of people detained during a police operation and the dismissal of the Public Security Director.
What factors are driving complaints against the police in Zacatecas?
“The director has committed too many abuses of power. We have evidence of many people who have suffered injustices. What we don’t find fair is that she is abusing her power… Yes, when they arrest them, they tell them, ‘Give me 500 or 1,000 and you’ll go.’ In fact, the municipal police are the ones taking on the role of traffic officers,” explained one of the victims of these arrests.
This case adds to a series of allegations of illegal detentions and abuse of authority documented in various regions of the state, including a recent recommendation issued to the Jerez City Council.
Historical records from the CDHEZ (Zacatecas State Human Rights Commission) show that while 82 complaints against security forces were recorded in 2021, the number climbed to 309 in 2024. Although a decrease to 276 cases was registered in 2025, the level of complaints remained significantly higher than that observed five years prior.
The main reported misconduct includes arbitrary detentions, illegal raids, injuries, torture, cruel treatment, and disproportionate use of force.
“It is important to continue strengthening their training; it is crucial that they always act appropriately, always respecting and not violating human rights. We know that sometimes in different situations, they need to be properly trained,” stated Maricela Dimas Reveles, president of the CDHEZ.
At the municipal level, complaints are concentrated primarily in the Zacatecas-Guadalupe corridor, as well as in Fresnillo, Jerez, Morelos, Calera, Jalpa, and Sombrerete.
This situation is also reflected in public perception. According to the most recent National Survey of Urban Public Security (ENSU), only half of the population expressed confidence in municipal and state police forces.
The figures show that, beyond training strategies and security operations, a gap persists between police actions and respect for human rights, a situation that continues to fuel public distrust and the increase in reports of abuses of power in Zacatecas.
Source: meganoticias
