Mendota Heights Police Officer Studies Law Enforcement in Mexico City

The pride that bonds a group of law enforcement officers is one that transcends the barriers of nation and language.

This is one of many lessons and Rosemount resident Steve Meyer learned on a recent trip to Mexico City.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Meyer.

A graduate student of Public Safety Administration at St. Mary’s University, Meyer visited Mexico City as part of the capstone class for his master’s program. 

The trip took place the week before Thanksgiving and included nine graduate students, all of whom are also public safety professionals. The students spent seven days observing Mexico City’s police department, hoping to gain a global perspective on law enforcement.

“It gets the students out of their comfort zone,” said Don St. Dennis, the associate vice president of university relations at St. Mary’s.

Meyer faced his share of cultural challenges. In Mexico City, the police have a reputation for being violent and corrupt, and many officers live below the poverty level.

This combination of corruption and poverty has led to a level of public disrespect for the authorities that would be unheard of in the United States. The Mexico City police department receives over 40,000 calls for service every day. Only 6,000 are actual emergencies requiring police assistance.

However, law enforcement in Mexico City is entering a new era. It recently became mandatory for officers to have a high school diploma. This education requirement is leading to an increase in wages. The police department is also strengthening its community outreach.

“It offered me a lot of new understandings,” said Meyer, in reference to the trip.

For instance, unlike in the United States, police work in Mexico City is not built on the assumption that a law enforcement encounter will be violent. Mexican police officers assume citizens are unarmed and are not afforded the same access to weapons as American officers. In Mexico City, officers are required to check out their guns at the beginning of each shift and some work completely unarmed.

But despite their many cultural differences, Meyer indicated that the Mexican and American police were united by a mutual pride in the work they do.

And for Meyer, the trip provided a chance to bring a newfound knowledge and perspective to his work life.

“It’s afforded me a lot of opportunities to share within my department,” said Meyer.