U N M I B H
OPINIONS AND CONCLUSIONS:
In spite of increased local police manpower after the bombing of two pilot
project houses in January 1998 the local police seem unable or are unwilling
to provide for adequate security in Stolac. This is most likely a function of
political divisions in the force which is comprised almost 50/50 Croats and
Bosniaks but is controlled exclusively by the Croats. Bosniak officers seem
unwilling or are afraid to assert their civil authority anywhere in Stolac outside
of the pilot project area. In short the local police are not engaged either
with each other or with the civilian population in general.
The Croat officers spend most of their time manning checkpoints on Viper and
Rabbit routes within one or two kilometers of the zone of separation, while
the Bosniaks spend most of their time on foots patrol in the PPA, in the station
house, or in their accommodation in the PPA. The IPTF insists on joint patrols
and are provided with written patrol plans that indicate that joint patrols
are being conducted but, often we find that those plans are not being followed
by the officers in the field or their team leaders. Croat officers will dispose
of their Bosniak partners at the first opportunity (usually a coffee break)
and will return to a favorite checkpoint location alone. IPTF believes that
they use these opportunities to extort money from passing motorists in the form
of traffic fines. When joint patrols do occur the driver of the patrol car is
always a Croat. Once on checkpoint duty the Bosniak officer will stay in the
patrol car or stand off to the side of the road while the Croat officer stops
the vehicles.
The criminal investigations bureau is comprised of three Croats and one Bosniak.
According to both sides they conduct their investigations jointly. A review
of their case files yielded well organized reports that provided an excellent
forensic explanation of the criminal acts under investigation. However, the
reports draw almost no conclusions, include no suspect interviews, limited witness
interviews, and are little more than a bland recounting of the physical evidence
and responding officers actions. Clearly, their efforts will not result in the
conclusion of the case or the arrest of any suspects and are meant to maintain
the illusion of police work in a political charged atmosphere where a crime
committed against a rival ethnicity is no crime at all.
In conclusion, the local police, despite the best of intentions of some of
its officers including the Chief of Staff remains an agency completely disengaged
from the business of solving crime or protecting the community they serve. They
are in the grips of a sclerotic and divided ministry incapable of consensus
regarding even the most basic of administrative police functions let alone the
important work of protecting life and property. Until those problems are addressed
and solved we can expect little else in Stolac.