EMERGENCIA • EMERGENCY
Dial 911
Airport Police
UNIFORMS: Blue -
DESCRIPTION:
CoastGuard • Coast Guard
UNIFORMS:
DESCRIPTION: CoastGuard vessels operate at the ports and around Cocos Island. They're the equivalent of Fuerza Publica on the water. Boats are normally white, with the red and blue striping, and say "GUARDACOSTAS" en large letters. There's only a few coastguard boats around, if you're sailing around you should have no real problem spotting them. SOURCE: CostaRica.wikia.com/wiki/Police_forces
DIS - La Dirección de Inteligencia y Seguridad Nacional •
National Directorate of Intelligence and Security
UNIFORMS:
DESCRIPTION: DIS is a state intelligence service, somewhat similar to the CIA in the United States. Their work deals mainly with tracking and gathering information on persons of interest that might be in the country. Issues involving INTERPOL are also normally routed through DIS. Officers belonging to DIS are not normally allowed to disclose their status, or make themselves visible. It's most likely that you won't see DIS anywhere, unless you're caught in the middle of something big, or get into trouble at airports or other points of entry. If someone appears on the street claiming to be DIS, be immediately suspicious and request regular police be called in to oversee. (SOURCE: http://CostaRica.wikia.com/wiki/Police_forces) Here’s another description: Outside the Fuerza Pública, there is a small Special Forces Unit, the Unidad Especial de Intervencion (UEI) or Special Intervention Unit, which trains with special forces of Israel, and its namesake in Spain and other democratic nations, but is not part of the main police forces. Instead it is part of the Intelligence and Security Directorate (DIS) which reports directly to the Minister of the Presidency. In case of war in Costa Rica, the United States has offered their military to use at Costa Rica's disposal.
SOURCE: CostaRica.wikia.com/wiki/Police_forces
Another Source: es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direcci%C3%B3n_de_Inteligencia_y_Seguridad
Fuerza Pública • Public Force - or National Police
(Emergency - 1117 • Non-Emergency - )
(FuerzaPublica.go.cr • facebook.com/FuerzaPublicaDeCostaRica)
UNIFORMS: Blue -
DESCRIPTION: FuerzaPublica.go.cr/funciones Responsible for citizen security, crime prevention and response.
The most widespread police force is known as "Fuerza Pública" or "Public Force". This is a civillian police force operated by the Ministry of Public Safety. Its officers wear a black or blue uniform, and sometimes bulletproof vests with the word "POLICIA" in large lettering. On the standard uniform, the words "FUERZA PUBLICA" are embroidered in yellow on the pocket. You'll also see them using a shield which depicts a police officer and two kids. In recent months, the shield has been redone with stylized silver figures, but the original one is still used on cars and uniforms. Police cars are white and say POLICIA in large blue or black letters. There are also police motorcycles, which are white or blue, dirtbike type, and have a blue light on the back. Also operating under Fuerza Publica are several specialized groups. These will wear the same uniform but use different abbreviations on their bulletproof vests. For example GAO (used by operational support) and UIP (used by riot control). SOURCE: CostaRica.wikia.com/wiki/Police_forces
UEA - Costa Rica's SWAT
OIJ - Organismo de Investigación Judicial
(pronounced “oh-E-ho-tah”)
UNIFORMS: -
DESCRIPTION: Costa Rica’s version of the FBI. You go to them to report anything serious and/or valued over $___/___-c, anything that requires an investigation, or to file a denuncio (lawsuit) against someone.
SERIOUSLY - if you report something to the OIJ, PLEASE also report it to YOUR EMBASSY so they can stay aware of things happening to their citizens!!!
(2-519-2000 • ACSSanJose@state.gov)
OIJ is a special group operated by the judicial branch of the government. Its functions are more investigative than regular police work. OIJ usually works undercover on the street, or during search and seizure operations or warrant enforcement uses bulletproof vests and black t-shirts with the words "PODER JUDICIAL" or "O.I.J." in yellow lettering. The simplicity of the uniform makes the OIJ appearance easy to forge. If someone identifies themselves as OIJ, you should immediately ask to see badge and credentials before going with them or complying with their requests. Undercover OIJ will usually not bother anyone, or make their presence known unless they see a crime that requires intervention. In any case, you have the right to request that regular police (Fuerza Publica) be made present. If you refuse, your vehicle, home or possesions cannot be searched, even by OIJ, without a court order signed by a judge.
SOURCE: CostaRica.wikia.com/wiki/Police_forces
LOCATION:
Policía de Control de Drogas • Drug Enforcement Police
(800-376-4266)
UNIFORMS:
DESCRIPTION:
LOCATION:
Policía de Fronteras • Border Police
UNIFORMS:
DESCRIPTION:
Policía de Migracion • Immigration Police
(facebook.com/MigracionCostaRica)
UNIFORMS:
DESCRIPTION: These often conduct routine immigration checks at busy locations such as bars and beaches, and a passport with the appropriate stamps will need to be produced.
Migratory police also operate in the country, they belong to the Direction of Immigration. They will not normally work alone, and will be accompanied by regular police. The usual drill is a bar or hotel will be cordoned by regular police, and immigration will be called in to check statuses. Foreigners in violation of migratory laws will be detained and turned over to regular police for arrest. After processing, they'll be sent to an immigration center, for deportation. SOURCE: CostaRica.wikia.com/wiki/Police_forces
LOCATION: La Uruca (just North/West-ish of San Jose) - Contiguo a Aviación Civil
Policia Municipalidad? • Municipal Police
UNIFORMS:
DESCRIPTION: They serve people papers. Some municipalities (i.e. San Jose) have their own police service. They work similar to Fuerza Publica, and have similar authority. Uniforms and vehicles vary, but will have the words "POLICIA MUNICIPAL" on them. SOURCE: CostaRica.wikia.com/wiki/Police_forces
LOCATION:
Policía de Transito • Transit Police
(2-222-9330 • 800-8-726-7486-FREE call)
(facebook.com/pages/POLICIA-DE-TRANSITO-DE-COSTA-RICA/212892178758906)
They are the ONLY police that can give you tickets and who to contact for accidents, traffic issues and highway emergencies.
UNIFORMS:
DESCRIPTION: Transit police are a group operated by the Ministry of Transportation, and work traffic duty exclusively. Their sole function is to control traffic and monitor traffic violations. They are not involved in regular police work, and cannot assume any functions that are competence of other police units. For example, they cannot search vehicles, homes, or demand to see migratory documents. If they see the need to arrest someone, they may immobilize and hold, but must turn them over immediately to regular police forces for processing. Transit police use black and white uniforms, and their cars are blue and yellow. Motorcycles are white, highway patrol models with clear shields up front. Just as transit police cannot perform regular police duties, regular police cannot perform traffic duties. If a regular police officer wants to take you in on a traffic violation, they cannot do it unless there's a traffic officer present to fill out the necessary paperwork. Transit does not operate undercover. By law, they must be in uniform at all times, their cars or motorcycles in a visible location on the side of the road, and with lights on after dark. If you find anyone claiming to be undercover transit, or "volunteer transit", don't listen, or request a uniformed officer be called at once.
SOURCE: CostaRica.wikia.com/wiki/Police_forces
Policía Turistica • Tourism Police
UNIFORMS:
DESCRIPTION:
Private Guards and rent-a-cops
UNIFORMS:
DESCRIPTION:
Private security services exist in Costa Rica, and operate extensively throughout the country. You can find anything from guys with batons, to fully armed security forces carrying shotguns and assault rifles. Their uniforms vary by company. They cannot use the word "police" on their uniforms or vehicles. They'll usually use words such as "SEGURIDAD" or "VIGILANCIA" to identify themselves. Private guards work like any other normal business, and have no priviledges or authority outside the dwellings they protect. They cannot stop vehicles or search anyone. In the event of a crime, they can hold someone until regular police arrive, turning them over immediately. Private security companies cannot limit your basic rights, and if you're being held, you still have the right to communicate freely with whomever you might want to, as well as use phones or other devices to call for help. SOURCE: CostaRica.wikia.com/wiki/Police_forces
Cuidacarros • “Parking Guards”
UNIFORMS: Yellow or Orange Vest
DESCRIPTION: On any street that has good vehicle movement, you're bound to see these guys. They usually have nothing more than a reflective vest and maybe a flashlight, and direct vehicles in and out of parking spots. They're known as "cuidacarros" or "guachimanes", and are simply a type of urban squatter, that takes it upon themselves to "watch" your car for you and charge you when you get back. Their trade is 100% clandestine: it's not authorized nor regulated. There's no law giving them the right to request a fee, and no obligation on your part to pay the fee. The subject has been discussed off and on several times in the past few years, with no real progress. The police have no time to deal with these guys, municipalities have no interest in them, and the owners of establishments that they squat normally pay no attention and prefer someone else deals with them. In the end, the best you can probably do is play along. In most cases you really have no other viable option that isn't time-consuming and, in the end, worthless. For short periods, maybe up to an hour, give them 200 or 300 colones. For more than an hour go up to 500. And for several hours, up to 1000. Some of them fix their own rates, which they'll give you stamped on a piece of cardboard. In these cases, pay attention to what it says, and if it's beyond what you're willing to pay, leave. In downtown San Jose, remember you have the option of parking lots. Around the National Theater, for example, these guys will want to charge you as much as 2000 colones for parking. You can usually drive a block around the corner and find a parking lot, that goes for 600 to 800 an hour.
SOURCE: CostaRica.wikia.com/wiki/Police_forces
NOTE that though Costa Rica does NOT have a “Military” per-say•officially - their police have been trained by the "School of the America's"
and DIS (above) - Costa Rica’s Special Forces Unit, the Unidad Especial de Intervencion (UEI) or Special Intervention Unit, trains with special forces of Israel, and its namesake in Spain and other democratic nations.
SOURCE: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Costa_Rica
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OTHER IMPORTANT NUMBERS:
AMBULANCE
CRUZ ROJA • RED CROSS
1128 / 2-221-5818
FIRE Department - BOMBEROS
1118
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