Termination phase-out study : public safety project, El Salvador

THIS IN-HOUSE TERMINAL EVAL WAS CONDUCTED BY THE INCUMBENT USAID PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER & INCLUDED DISCUSSIONS WITH GOVT OF EL SALVADOR,USAID,AND PROJ PERSONNEL. THE PUBLIC SAFETY PROJ BEGAN IN 1957. FROM 1957 TO 1963 IT WAS DIRECTED AT UPGRADING THE NATL POLICE. IN 1963,EFFORTS WERE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE NATL GUARD. AT ITS PEAK,DURING THE MID-1960'S,THE PROG HAD FIVE ADVISORS. SINCE 1970,THE PROG HAS OPERATED WOTH ONLY ONE ADVISOR. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICE & SECURITY RECORDS,IMMIGRATION & CUSTOMS CONTROL,MODERNIZATION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES,AND THE EXPANSION OF TRNG PROGS. EXCELLENT PROGRESS WAS MADE WITH REGARD TO IMPROVING COUNTER-INSURGENCY & RIOT CONTROL CAPABILITIES. HOWEVER,SOME WEAKNESS STILL EXISTS DUE TO BUDGET DEFLCITS FOR EQUIPMENT (TEAR GAS) PURCHASES. BUDGETING FOR VEHICLE & PARTS HAS BEEN DIFICIENT. US PERSONNEL COSTS THROUGH THE LIFE-OF-THE-PROJ TOTALLED $864,000. DISBURSEMENTS FOR COMMODITIES TOTALLED $776,000 OR 35% OF THE TOTAL PROJ COST. PARTICIPANT TRNG WAS PROVIDED AT THE INTER-AMERICAN POLICE ACADEMY IN THE CANAL ZONE,THE INTNATL POLICE IN WASHINGTON,DC,THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY (OPS) TRNG DIVISION,AND IN THIRD COUNTRIES. DURING 1963-66 AN AVG OF 40 PARTICIPANTS RECIEVED TRNG YRLY. DURING THE YEARS PRIOR & SUBSEQUENT TO THAT PERIOD,THE AVG WAS 10 PARTICIPANTS YRLY. PARTICIPANTS WERE SELECTED FROM THE NATL POLICE,THE NATL GUARD,HACIENDA(TREASURY),ADUANA(COSTOMS),IMMOGRATION,MUNICIPAL POLICE, AND THE FIRE DEPT. HOST COUNTRY COOPERATION HAS BEEN SATISFACTORY. GOES PURCHASED 12 PATROL VEHICLES IN 1970; $300,000 WORTH OF COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT IN 1972; AND 29 VEHICLES IN 1973. AUTHOR RECOMMENDS ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESEARCH & PLNNGOFFICE IN THE NATL POLICE. ALSO,SPECIALIZED TEAMS SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO BURGULARY,THEFT,ROBBERY,HOMICIDE,ECT. IN ADDITION,THERE SHOULD BE SPECIFIC BUDGETING FOR REPLACEMENT VEHICLES,EQUIPMENT,AND SPARE PARTS. THIS EVAL IS ATTACHED TO A PAR (PD-AAD-836-D1).