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General Commissioner
Mauricio Arriaza Chicas
General Commissioner Mauricio Arriaza Chicas
	Arriaza in 2022
13th Director of the National Civil Police
	In office; 1 June 2019 – 8 September 2024
President	Nayib Bukele
Preceded by	Howard Cotto Castaneda
Succeeded by	César Flores Murillo (interim)
Personal details
Born	Mauricio Antonio Arriaza Chicas; 16 December 1964; Chalchuapa, El Salvador
Died	8 September 2024 (aged 59); Pasaquina, El Salvador
Alma mater	Captain General Gerardo Barrios Military School
Occupation	Police officer
	Police career
Allegiance	El Salvador
Department	National Civil Police
Service years	1993–2024
Rank	General Commissioner

Mauricio Antonio Arriaza Chicas (16 December 1964 – 8 September 2024) was a Salvadoran police officer who served as the director of the National Civil Police (PNC) of El Salvador from 2019 until his death in a helicopter crash in 2024.

Early life and career

Mauricio Antonio Arriaza Chicas was born on 16 December 1964 in Chalchuapa, El Salvador.^[1]

Arriaza graduated from the Captain General Gerardo Barrios Military School.^[2] He later graduated from the School of the Americas in 1986 and the Carabineros School of Chile in 1988. In 1993, Arriaza transferred from the Armed Forces of El Salvador to the National Civil Police (PNC) as a part of the Chapultepec Peace Accords' mandate that 20 percent of the armed forces' soldiers must be transitioned to being police officers. In 1995, Arriaza obtained his licentiate of judicial sciences at the University of the Americas.^[3]

In 1996, Arriaza and eleven other PNC police officers were arrested on the orders of the Office of the Attorney General (FGR) for supposedly "vitiating and manipulating" ("viciar y manipular") evidence in the arrest of Nelson Martínez Comandari by allegedly planting a rifle. He was suspended from the PNC but was ultimately acquitted and was restored to his position in 2003.^[2]

Director of the National Civil Police

On 1 June 2019, newly inaugurated president Nayib Bukele appointed Arriaza as the director of the PNC.^[4] Upon becoming director, Arriaza promised that police officers would be "in the entire territory" ("estar en todo el territorio") of El Salvador to combat crime.^[5] On 19 June, Bukele's security ministers announced the beginning of the Territorial Control Plan, a nationwide government anti-gang campaign. Arriaza and Minister of Justice Rogelio Rivas announced that 2,500 police officers would initially be stationed in 12 of the country's 262 municipalities where gangs hold the most influence before expanding to the remaining municipalities.^[6]

Involvement in 9F

On 9 February 2020, 40 soldiers and 51 police officers accompanied Bukele inside the Legislative Assembly's Blue Room — its meeting room — amidst tension between Bukele and the legislature over the approval of a US$109 million loan to finance the Territorial Control Plan. Lawyers and opposition lawmakers described the incident, known in El Salvador as "9F", as a "self coup" ("autogolpe").^[7] In August 2020, during a Legislative Assembly inquiry into the incident, Arriaza stated that the PNC had express permission from the Legislative Assembly to be present inside the Blue Room to provide security.^[8] On 27 October, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice declared the events of 9F as unconstitutional, including the presence of the 51 police officers.^[9]

2020–2021 removal proceedings

In September 2020, lawyer Ruth Eleonora López asked the Constitutional Chamber to declare Arriaza's appointment as director of the PNC as unconstitutional for being a former soldier, citing a constitutional separation between the military and public security.^[10] The chamber agreed to hear the case in April 2021.^[11]

In October 2020, opposition lawmakers criticized Arriaza for not obeying two government orders: one by the Legislative Assembly to make Minister of Finance Alejandro Zelaya testify before the legislature, and one by Attorney General Raúl Melara to allow garbage trucks to access the Nejapa landfill as police officers were blockading access. FMLN deputy Schafik Hándal Vega and ARENA deputy Mauricio Vargas accused Arriaza of being more loyal to Bukele than the law.^[12] López stated that Arriaza's disobedience violated the constitution.^[13]

On 12 October 2020, Bukele appointed Arriaza as the vice minister of public security.^[14] On 10 November, the FGR filed a petition to remove Arriaza as vice minister of public security and director of the PNC for allegedly failing to complete his duties regarding the two orders he disobeyed.^[15] The petition was filed as Arriaza had immunity from prosecution due to his appointment as vice minister of public security.^[16] Bukele accused the FGR of attempting to undermine the Territorial Control Plan by filing the petition against Arriaza.^[17] Arriaza attended a series of legislative hearings and defended his actions in late November 2020.^[18] On 4 December, the Legislative Assembly voted to suspend Arriaza from carrying out his duties as director of the PNC pending the outcome of his removal case.^[19] Arriaza resigned as vice minister of public security on 7 December.^[20] The removal proceedings were suspended in May 2021 after the newly elected Legislative Assembly voted to remove Melara as attorney general and Arriaza resumed his duties as PNC director. The new attorney general, Rodolfo Delgado, stated that the Office of the Attorney General sought to cooperate with the National Civil Police to ensure public security.^[21]

Gang crackdown

In late March 2022, Bukele and the Legislative Assembly declared a state of exception following a spike in homicides. In the subsequent gang crackdown, Arriaza organized the PNC's operations to arrests thousands of suspected gang members.^[1]^[22] The crackdown received criticism from human rights groups, and Human Rights Watch called for countries to implement travel bans against Arriaza and to freeze his assets for allegedly being responsible for "widespread human rights violations" during the gang crackdown.^[23]

On 18 May 2023, Bukele promoted Arriaza to the rank of general commissioner.^[24] On 3 June 2024, Bukele issued a decree which stated that Arriaza would continue to serve as director of the PNC during his second term. The Legislative Assembly confirmed Bukele's decree on 8 June.^[25]

Personal life

Arriaza was married to Claudia de Arriaza and had two children.^[26]

Death

On 8 September 2024, Arriaza met Honduran authorities at the El Salvador–Honduras border to accept the extradition of Manuel Coto. Coto was a former manager of the Santa Victoria Cooperative Savings and Credit Association (COSAVI) who was arrested by Honduran authorities earlier that day on a Salvadoran arrest warrant for allegedly misappropriating US$35 million in government funds. While flying back to San Salvador, the Salvadoran Air Force Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter carrying Arriaza and Coto crashed near Pasaquina in La Unión Department.^[27]^[28] The Salvadoran military confirmed the deaths of all 9 people on board the helicopter, including Arriaza, Coto, and two of Arriaza's deputies, early on 9 September.^[29]^[30]^[31]

Bukele expressed doubt that the crash was an accident and called for international assistance in investigating the disaster.^[32]^[33] He ordered all Salvadoran flags to be lowered to half-mast for three days.^[34] Arriaza was buried on 11 September following an official funeral for him and the other victims of the crash at the former presidential residence in San Salvador.^[26]

Commissioner César Flores Murillo, the director of the National Academy of Public Safety, replaced Arriaza on an interim basis.^[35]

References

^ ^a ^b "¿Quién Era Mauricio Arriaza, Impulsador del Plan de Lucha Contra las Maras en El Salvador?" [Who Was Mauricio Arriaza, Promoter of the Plan to Fight Gangs in El Salvador?]. El Heraldo (in Spanish). 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Arriaza Chicas Será el Nuevo Director de la PNC" [Arriaza Chicas Will Be the New Director of the PNC]. Diario1 (in Spanish). 2 June 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ "La Carrera del Director de la PNC más Caro de la Historia Salvadoreña" [The Career of the PNC Director is the Most Expensive in Salvadoran History]. YouTube (in Spanish). La Prensa Gráfica. 18 July 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ "Comisionado Mauricio Arriaza Chicas es el Nuevo Director General de la Policía Nacional Civil" [Commissioner Mauricio Arriaza Chicas is the New General Director of the National Civil Police]. La Página (in Spanish). 1 June 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ Arévalo, Mariana (5 June 2019). "Director de la PNC Promete Presencia Policial en Todo El Salvador" [Director of the PNC Promises Police Presence in All of El Salvador]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Calderón, Beatriz; Alemán, Francisco (20 June 2019). "Lo Que se Sabe del "Plan Control Territorial" Implementado este Jueves por el Gobierno" [What Is Known of the "Territorial Control Plan" Implemented this Thursday by the Government]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ "El Salvador: Oposición Señala de "Irresponsable" a Bukele" [El Salvador: Opposition Signals Bukele is "Irresponsible"]. Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). 9 February 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Rivas, Andrea (27 August 2020). "Director de la PNC: "Tenemos Documentos que Prueban que la Asamblea nos Pidió Seguridad" el 9F" [Director of the PNC: "We Have Documents Which Prove that the Assembly Asked Us for Security" in 9F]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Martínez, Rocío (27 October 2024). "Sala Declara Inconstitucional la Convocatoria del 9F Realizada por el Consejo de Ministros" [Court Declares the Reunion of 9F Realized by the Council of Ministers as Unconstitutional]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Flores, Ricardo (2 September 2020). "Piden Declarar Ilegal el Nombramiento de Arriaza Chicas como Director de la PNC por ser Militar" [They Ask to Declare the Appointing of Arriaza Chicas as PNC Director as Illegal for Being a Soldier]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Calderón, Beatriz (15 April 2021). "Sala Admite Demanda Contra Nombramiento del Militar Arriaza Chicas al Frente de la Policía Nacional Civil" [Court Admits Lawsuit Against Appointment of Military Officer Arriaza Chicas to the Head of the National Civil Police]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Pacheco, Melissa (7 October 2020). "Rechazo a Uso Político y Discrecional de la PNC" [Rejection of Political and Discretionary Use of the PNC]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Urbina, Javier; Pacheco, Melissa (8 October 2020). "Señalan al Director de la PNC de Incumplir la Constitución" [They Accuse the Director of the PNC of Violating the Constitution]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Flores, Ricardo (15 October 2020). "Bukele Nombra a Arriaza Chicas como Nuevo Viceministro de Seguridad Pública" [Bukele Names Arriaza Chicas as the New Vice Minister of Public Security]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ Martínez, Rocío (10 November 2020). "Fiscalía Entrega Petición de Desafuero del Director de la Policía, Mauricio Arriaza Chicas" [Attorney General Files Petition to Remove the Police Director, Mauricio Arriaza Chicas]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Portillo, Denni; Jordán, Laura (11 November 2020). "Fiscalía Entrega Petición de Desafuero del Director de la Policía, Mauricio Arriaza Chicas" [Attorney General Submits Petition to Remove the Police Director, Mauricio Arriaza Chicas]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Portillo, Denni (11 November 2020). "Bukele Acusa a la Fiscalía de Querer Desmantelar Plan Control Territorial por Pedir Desafuero de Director Policial" [Bukele Accuses the Attorney General of Wanting to Dismantle the Territorial Control Plan by Asking to Remove the Police Director]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Campos Madrid, Gabriel (28 November 2020). "Arriaza Defendió Actuación de PNC en Caso Zelaya" [Arriaza Defended the PNC's Action in the Zelaya Case]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Calderón, Beatriz (4 December 2020). "Comisión Emite Dictamen para Desaforar a Mauricio Arriaza Chicas por Incumplimiento de Deberes" [Commission Gives Decree to Suspend Mauricio Arriaza Chicas for Failing to Complete His Duties]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ "Presidente Nayib Bukele Acepta la Renuncia de Mauricio Antonio Arriaza Chicas como Viceministro de Seguridad" [President Nayib Bukele Accepts the Resignation of Mauricio Antonio Arriaza Chicas as Vice Minister of Security]. Government of El Salvador (in Spanish). 8 December 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ Laguán, Jonathan (2 May 2021). "La Unión del Trabajo de la Fiscalía y la PNC es lo Único que Puede Llevar Seguridad a los Salvadoreños: Rodolfo Delgado, Nuevo Fiscal General" [The Union of Labor of the Office of the Attorney General and the PNC is the Only Thing that Can Bring Security to Salvadorans: Rodolfo Delgado, New Attorney General]. Diario El Salvador (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Laguán, Jonathan (9 September 2024). "Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, el Primer Comisionado General de la PNC y Una Vida Dedicada a la Seguridad Pública" [Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, the First General Commissioner of the PNC and a Life Dedicated to Public Security]. Diario El Salvador (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Renteria, Nelson; Siniawski, Natalia (9 September 2024). MacSwan, Angus (ed.). "El Salvador Police Chief and Accused Embezzler Killed in Helicopter Crash". Reuters. San Salvador, El Salvador. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Sandoval, Williams (20 May 2023). "Críticas por Ascenso de Arriaza Chicas como Comisionado General de la PNC" [Criticism Over Promotion of Arriaza Chicas as General Commissioner of the PNC]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ Alfaro, Xiomara (8 June 2024). "Mauricio Arriaza Chicas Seguirá como Director de la PNC" [Mauricio Arriaza Chicas Will Continue as Director of the PNC]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b Alemán, Marcos (12 September 2024). "Emotivo Sepelio del Director General de la Policía Salvadoreña que Falleció en Accidente Aéreo" [Emotional Funeral of the Director General of the Salvadoran Police who Died in an Air Accident]. Associated Press (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
^ Mendoza, Insy; Fonseca, M. (8 September 2024). "Se Estrella Helicóptero en Pasaquina, La Unión, con Expresidente de COSAVI y Director de la PNC a Bordo" [The Helicopter with the Former President of COSAVI and the Director of the PNC On Board Crashes in Pasaquina, La Unión]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Cornejo, Iliana (8 September 2024). "Helicóptero que Trasladaba a Director de la PNC y a Exgerente de COSAVI se Estrella en La Unión" [Helicopter Which Transported Director of the PNC and Former Manager of COSAVI Crashes in La Unión]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ Merlos, Ricardo (9 September 2024). "Nueve Personas Iban Abordo del Helicóptero Estrellado en Pasaquina, La Unión Entre Ellos el Director de la PNC, Subdirector de Áreas Especializadas Operativas, Subdirector de Investigaciones y Exgerente General de COSAVI" [Nine People Were Onboard the Helicopter Which Crashed in Pasaquina, La Unión, Among Them the Director of the PNC, the Sub-Director of Special Aerial Operatives, the Sub-Director of Investigations, and the Former General Director of COSAVI]. La Noticia SV (in Spanish). El Salvador. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Cornejo, Iliana (9 September 2024). "FAES Confirma Muerte de Director de la PNC y Todos los Tripulantes en Helicóptero Estrellado" [FAES Confirmed the Death of the Director of the PNC and All Crew Members in Crashed Helicopter]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Bernal, David (8 September 2024). "Muere Director PNC y Exgerente de COSAVI en Accidente Aéreo en Pasaquina: Fuerza Armada" [Armed Forces: The Director of the PNC and Former Director of COSAVI Die in an Aviation Accident in Pasaquina]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Ives, Mike (9 September 2024). "El Salvador's Police Chief Dies in Helicopter Crash". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Buschschlüter, Vanessa (9 September 2024). "El Salvador Police Chief Dies in 'Suspicious' Copter Crash". BBC News. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
^ Morales, David (9 September 2024). "Banderas de El Salvador a Media Asta en Honor al Director de la PNC" [El Salvador Flags at Half-Mast in Honor of the Director of the PNC]. La Noticia SV (in Spanish). El Salvador. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
^ Sandoval, Williams (17 September 2024). "Nuevo Director de la PNC Debe Defender Derechos Humanos, Según Analistas" [New Director of the PNC Should Defend Human Rights, According to Analysts]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 September 2024.