El Salvador’s Minister of Defense, René Francis Merino Monroy, recently welcomed the Sheriff of Suffolk County, New York, Errol D. Toulon, and Deputy Sheriff Kevin T. Catalina to his country to showcase the remarkable outcomes of the government’s security strategy aimed at minimizing gang-related homicides and other crimes.
The top military official highlighted the historic achievements made possible through the implementation of El Salvador’s security strategy, which has succeeded in reducing gang-related violence to record lows in the nation.
The Salvadoran Armed Forces revealed that Minister Merino Monroy engaged in discussions with the visiting American sheriffs regarding the practical implementation of the security strategy, which has positioned El Salvador as the safest country in Latin America.
“The international perception of El Salvador has shifted significantly, with our nation now being seen as a place where citizens enjoy newfound security and peace,” conveyed the Armed Forces in a statement.
The military authorities affirmed their commitment to working collaboratively with other security institutions in the country, forming the Security Cabinet, to continue providing the much-desired tranquility that the population currently experiences.
During their visit to El Salvador, Sheriff Toulon expressed his admiration for the country’s security strategies, saying, “I would like to take many of El Salvador’s security tactics back to the United States.”
He also noted the transformation he witnessed since his previous visit in 2018, remarking, “It was a completely different situation back then. Today, I can see that people feel safer and have greater freedom.”
Both sheriffs also held meetings with Gustavo Villatoro, Minister of Justice and Security, Commissioner Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, Minister of the National Civil Police (PNC), and Osiris Luna, Director-General of Penal Centers. Together, they toured the Counter-Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) facilities.
Minister Villatoro expressed, “Undoubtedly, it has been an enriching experience to share the successful results in the fight against gangs and criminality so that other nations can address this scourge.”
The exchange between El Salvador and the United States represents a promising avenue for sharing effective security strategies and fostering international cooperation in the battle against organized crime.