The fallout from the botched bar bust that resulted in 12 people being crushed continues. Video evidence surfaced showing the police blocking the doorways of New's Divine, and witnesses came forward with accounts of officers throwing punches at the partying youngsters.
The fingers are pointing in Mexico City. So far, the commander in charge of the operation, Guillermo Zayas, is out, and is accused of negligent homicide. The area delegate to the city legislature has also resigned. Marcelo Ebrard, the city's mayor, has offered his support for the chief of the local police, Joel Ortega. If I understand correctly, either the president or the mayor can remove chief of Mexico City police from office, so unless Calderón pulls the trigger or Ebrard changes his mind, Ortega isn't going anywhere. The CNDH (the National Human Rights Commission) has requested that Ortega be forced out. Ironically, Ebrard had a similar situation when he was the local chief of police (it's a political rather than a police position in Mexico City); after the public lynchings of two officers, Vicente Fox ousted Ebrard in 2004. Witnesses have said that the local police (rather than other federal bodies that were present) were particularly abusive, so it'll be interesting to see if Ortega will remain.
Also, Mexico City has a new law in which people harmed in a police action can receive damage payments. This is the first time the law, which came on the books in April, will be applied.
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