police has become the “central axis of public security politics” in Buenos Aires and that
the police have become trapped in a “spiral of violence” in which any crime can lead to a
confrontation that endangers the lives of suspected criminals, police agents and
bystanders.
24
Table 4.1
Total Homicides and Civilians Killed by Police
Buenos Aires (Federal Capital) 1988-1990, 1996-2001
Total Homicides
Civilians Killed by Police
Percentage
1988
272
41
15
1989
329
41
12
1990
241
31
15
1996
177
43
20
1997
156
32
17
1998
151
54
26
1999
164
65
28
2000
149
55
27
2001
152
57
28
Source: The number of total homicides from the Judicial Morgue and the Dirección Nacional de Política
Criminal del Ministerio de Justicia y Derecho Humanos de la Nación. The numbers of civilians killed by
the police compiled by CELS from reports of police violence in La Nación, Clarín, Página 12 and La
Razón.
25
24
Palmieri, Gustavo F., Cecilia L. Ales, and Eduardo Donza. 2002. Violencía y Enfrentamientos
Policiales: Civiles y policías muertos en enfrentamientos de los que participaron miembros de la Policía
Federal Argentina Años 1996-2001. Buenos Aires: Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales
25
Palmieri et. al. Violencía y Enfrentamientos Policiales; Chevigny, Paul and Bell
Chevigny. 1991. Police Violence in Argentina: Torture and Police Killings in Buenos Aires. New York:
Human Rights Watch and Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales.