percent of the disappeared documented by CONADEP were between sixteen and thirty-
five years old. The majority of disappearances occurred between 1976 and 1977.
Victims included children and pregnant women, adolescents, families, journalists, artists,
students, teachers, workers, professionals, housewives and military and police
personnel.
19
El Gatillo Fácil
Although the police played a central part in the military’s “Dirty War” against
subversion, the institution did not experience the same loss of power and personnel
purges that the military suffered after the democratic transition in 1983. During the
presidency of Raúl Alfonsín (1984-1989), police institutions regained their autonomy
from military oversight, and a few top police officials responsible for the most visible
human rights abuses during the military regime were replaced. However, military revolts
and an acute economic crisis distracted public attention away from issues of police
reform.
20
Police violence and corruption became a more prominent public concern during
the presidency of Carlos Menem (1989-1999) as rising crime rates coincided with highly
publicized cases of police abuse and corruption.
21
Efforts have been made to reform the
19
Military and police personnel who refused to take part in the repression disappeared
along with civilian prisoners. Security personnel who disappeared were often listed as deserters. Nunca
Más. 253-259
20
Anderson. La policía. 295-316; Pereira and Ungar. “Mano Dura.” 279-280.
21
These cases most often involved police personnel from either the Buenos Aires
Provincial Police or the Federal Police. Cases included the bombing of the Federal Capital’s Jewish
Community Center (AMIA), the murder of photographer José Luis Cabezas and a number of deadly
shootings of citizens. See Anderson. La policía. 317-350; Pereira and Ungar. “Mano Dura.” 279-280.
Convention