POFCI GOES TO VENEZUELA

This past February 22, 1997, at about one o'clock in the morning, Team LEO (Law Enforcement Outreach) touched down at Caracas International Airport. This was an historic event since it was the first time that a team of police officers from the United States had come to Caracas for the express purpose of sharing the love of Jesus Christ with officers in Venezuela. To accomplish that goal, we felt that we needed to meet with police officers within the city and establish relationships with them. We needed to see what issues they faced and what, if anything, we could contribute to making their job a little safer and, if possible, easier. We also wanted to assist Randy Green, POFCI's Regional Representative in Venezuela, in building bridges to the law enforcement community of Caracas.

Our team consisted of eleven police officers, eight from Southern California, two from Georgia, and one from Illinois. However, the most important members of the team were our support group made up of wives and children as well as Anina Walberg, our duly elected team captain. The support group ranged in age from three years to seventy nine. Three year old Spencer Dalbey was responsible for ensuring that all of the ice cream got eaten before it melted while Anina, our senior team member, was in charge of keeping us all from grumbling. If she could put in eighteen hour days without complaint, the rest of us could too.

Our law enforcement contingent were Sergeant Dave McDowell, Westminster Police Department; Deputy Terry Hart, Orange County Sheriff's Department; Sergeant Craig Bryant and Officer Steve Dalbey, Huntington Beach and Sergeant Devin Chase, Torrance Police Department. From the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were Deputies Tony Miano and Cheryl Masse and Lieutenant Ken Masse. Lieutenants Tom Culpepper and Leonard Gandy, Cartersville Police Department, joined us from the Peach Tree State of Georgia. Illinois was represented by Sergeant David Zirkle of the Lansing Police Department.

During our time in Venezuela we trained with four different police agencies. These included the police departments for Baruta, Chacao, and Libertador, three of the several municipalities located within the boundaries of Caracas. Additionally we had the privilege of training with cadets from the Policia Tecnica Justicia (PTJ), Venezuela's version of our FBI. In all, we trained with about 700 officers from the four agencies.

We found the Venezuelan officers to be very bright and interested in anything we could share with them. Per capita, there seemed to be a higher percentage of female police officers in Caracas than there are in the United States.

Nestled in a long, narrow valley, some 3,000 feet above the Caribbean Sea, Caracas is surrounded by tall, steep mountains. The city's skyline is spectacular. The multi-color brick, mortar, and glass skyscrapers were dwarfed by the backdrop of majestic green mountains. Because of its unique setting, the view is enjoyed by rich and poor alike. With a population of about six million people, Caracas has more than its share of poor, the majority of whom live in barrios, communities of ramshackle structures that have been crudely built on steep hillsides all around the city.

The barrios are seeing exploding crime rates with little or no enforcement of the local laws. The barrios are so dangerous that some of the agencies prohibit their officers from entering alone while on duty, even though many of the officers are forced to live in these impoverished communities because it is all they can afford. It is not uncommon for officers to be attacked with hand grenades or even bazooka rounds if they dare to venture into the barrios without a sizable force and the necessary firepower. While we were in Caracas, officers from the Baruta Police Department were involved in a shootout with suspects armed with hand grenades and 9mm semi-automatic pistols. The suspects were also equipped with ballistic vests. We learned that an average of one officer per week is killed in the line of duty in Caracas.

In recent years, the once-thriving Venezuelan economy has taken a downturn. The Bolivar is the standard currency of Venezuela. It takes about 475 Bolivars to equal one American dollar. The country's minimum wage is $75 (U.S.) a month. Doctors working in the government-run hospitals earn approximately $100 monthly, while the average police officer earns about $120 per month. Although food and other necessities are somewhat more affordable, the cost of housing in Caracas is comparable to many parts of the United States.

To some degree, corruption exists at all levels of business and government and, sadly, the police are not exempt from its effects. Considering the poor wages, and the fact that many officers are forced to live in the crime infested barrios, many of them see no alternative but to become involved in the corruption themselves. Police officers are rarely respected, much less appreciated in Venezuela. In fact, there is so little respect for the police that, if asked, the average citizen would be adamant in saying they did not want their child to become a police officer.

Lately, however, there has been a major effort to change this kind of thinking. To deal with the corruption and to introduce a spirit of professionalism among police officers, a number of the municipalities within Caracas (Chacao, Baruta and Libertador included), have formed their own police departments. We found many of their officers to be very interested in the biblical concepts of morality and ethics.

Because of the high crime rate and the extreme violence perpetrated by the criminal element, Caracas is also a city gripped with fear. Evidence of that fear is visible at every turn. Most residential areas are gated communities with guards posted at the entrances. Virtually every home and apartment complex is protected by walls and iron gates. Many of the walls are topped with shards of broken glass, even in the nicest communities. The typical apartment is reached by passing through as many as six barred gates and security doors and can require as many keys..

On our first Sunday in Caracas, we attended services at Las Acacias Church, the largest evangelical church in the city. The church can accommodate up to 3,000 in its huge auditorium. The 4:00 p.m. service had been announced as a Police Appreciation Service so we all wore our uniforms. There were several Venezuelan officers in attendance as well and many of them were wearing their uniforms. To our knowledge, this was the first time in Venezuelan history that a church held a service to appreciate police officers.

Several team members were given the opportunity to share from the pulpit. The service gave us an opportunity to share with congregation that it is possible to be a Christian and a cop at the same time. Randy Green was kind enough to serve as our interpreter. Randy then shared a message from Romans 13 about the police officer as a minister of God. The effect of Randy's message was significant. At the conclusion of the service, an altar call was given. The first three people to come forward to acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior were a police officer, a revolutionary, and a drug trafficker. With tears running down his cheeks, the revolutionary said, "I didn't realize I was in rebellion against God."

The service ended with the LEO Team members being called forward for a time of prayer in which the entire congregation prayed for our protection and the success of our mission. As the service closed, many of those in attendance wanted to talk with various team members. One of the Venezuelan officers approached Tony Miano and said that he wanted to speak with him. The officer was not in uniform. He told Tony that he had graduated from the police academy only a few months earlier. He worked for one of the larger police departments in Venezuela. This young officer had been a believer most of his life. Through an interpreter, he told Tony that he entered the academy with several other believers. He said that the corruption and pressure to conform was so intense that all of the other believers who had joined the force with him had since fallen away from the Lord. The officer continued, "I had no idea the world was like this." As he spoke, he was constantly, and quite literally, looking over his shoulder. His demeanor really drove home what the cost was to be a believer, especially a believing officer, in Venezuela. We never saw the officer again.

Monday was our first day of training. Prior to our arrival in Venezuela, we had learned that some public officials in Caracas were opposed to our coming into the country to train with their officers. The mayor of one of the smaller municipalities in Caracas had been spreading rumors that our group was actually a cult. Because of these rumors, many were hesitant about our contact with the local police. Likewise, we had no idea what kind of training, or how much training, we would be allowed to provide. We had no itinerary. We had no idea of the level of sophistication and experience of the officers we would be working with. Trusting the Lord soon became our battle cry. This is no small statement, considering the team was made up of training officers with varying degrees of expertise, each of which would have preferred not to just "wing it" through a course of instruction. The team had the added pressure of being unfamiliar with the laws and customs of the land, a distinct language barrier, and always having in the back of our mind that much of what we did would be a first in Venezuelan history. So, when in doubt, pray. And pray we did.

We prayed and strategized as our hired bus took us through the barrios to the Libertador training academy. We arrived to find a large group of officers in jeans and t-shirts waiting for us. They had no gymnasium so we made do with some mats and a cement courtyard in a park across the street from the academy. With Terry Hart and Dave Zirkle, our resident martial arts experts taking the lead, we began with some basic control holds. Terry practiced his comedy routine while Dave found himself in the role of the "fall guy." But Dave was a good sport and took all of his falls with grace. At the end of the day, however, he was able to repay the favor when he and Terry did an exhibition for the officers.

It was soon apparent that basic techniques was the right place to start. The class was very enthusiastic and refused to take breaks, something foreign to most American officers. As we started basic handcuffing, we noticed that not all of the officers had handcuffs. It was not because they forgot to bring them, but because many of the officers simply could not afford them. We learned that Libertador was a very new police department, having been in existence for a year and a half, and that most of its officers had less than a year of experience. We also learned that many of the officers must go out on patrol without the basics of officer equipment such as handcuffs, batons or handguns. Considering how dangerous it can be for officers in Caracas, it was a chilling sight to see several officers at roll call with empty holsters!

The director of the academy stood off to the side with his arms crossed and watched us intently.. He soon realized the value of what his officers were being taught and expressed gratefulness for the training that we were providing. By the end of the day, he was our friend, showering us with gifts of appreciation, and asking us to come back.

Tuesday, we went to Chacao, another of the newer municipalities in the city. Chacao P.D. is one of the more advanced departments as far as equipment and training. The assistant chief of this department was a highly trained professional who we were immediately impressed with. He had received a lot of his training in the United States. We spent the day with a group of his officers and went over areas such as searching and handcuffing, control holds and take downs, gun take-aways, and felony car stops. As with Libertador, the Chacao officers were very appreciative for the new things we showed them.

During the training, we met a motor officer named Jose. The week before we arrived, Jose had gotten into an officer involved shooting. He and his partner (for increased safety, officers often ride two to a motorcycle in Venezuela) had pulled over two suspected bank robbers who were also riding a motorcycle. The suspects immediately fired several rounds over their shoulders at the officers and then fled. During the ensuing pursuit, Jose's partner fell from the motorcycle as they were taking rounds from the suspects. When the suspects finally crashed, again shooting over their shoulders, they engaged Jose in a brief gunfight. In the exchange, he fatally shot the driver and wounded the passenger. Jose was worried though.

Because of the laws of Venezuela, and an inherent lack of trust for the country's police, Jose explained that he could go to prison for the shooting. He said that even if an officer kills someone in self defense, he can still go to prison for up to eight years. He told us that it is unlawful for an officer to shoot someone in the back under any circumstances. The criminals know this and fire over their shoulders, with their backs to the officers. It is also unlawful for an officer to shoot someone who attacks him with a knife. Needless to say, the Venezuelan street cop often works with his hands tied. And we think we have it tough working the streets in our country!

Jose's only hope is to remain on the police force. In an unusual wording of the law, Jose is exempt from prosecution for the shooting as long as he is a cop. However, the moment he leaves the department, he is fair game for the prosecutors, regardless of how long ago the shooting occurred.

We found Chacao's officers to be very forward thinking and interested in many of the programs that we use in our country. Edgar, one of the officers who translated for us throughout the day, was currently developing a drug awareness program for elementary school children. Having spent eight years in the United States, Edgar was familiar with many of the programs that we use and wanted to introduce them in his department. Edgar is also a dog handler and he treated us to an outstanding display of canine cooperation. In Chacao, the officers have taught their dogs to work in tandem when going after a bad guy. We were impressed with the way the dogs were able to isolate and bring down their suspect. Apparently they were impressed with us too. One of the canine officers literally gave Steve Dalbey "the shirt off his back." Steve proudly wears that shirt whenever the opportunity presents itself.

We had an audience with the Chief of Police at the end of the day. He presented us with gifts and his personal card, which in Venezuela is considered a sign of respect. Everyone on the team returned the favor with cards, pins, patches, and plaques. We quickly learned that Venezuelans are a very giving and generous people.

You can share in the excitement of the moment through this email, sent home this Tuesday evening.

Wednesday, we trained a contingent of officers from Baruta P.D. As with the first two days, the training went very well. Like Chacao, Baruta's police department has been in existence for some time and the professionalism and training is evident among the officers and their supervisors. They were also well equipped. All of the officers had handcuffs, batons and handguns. We ended the day by taking a tour of the Baruta P.D. headquarters. The Chief showed us a small vacant lot within the complex that he said was the future site for a chapel. The chief presented each of us with certificates of appreciation, hats, patches, and pins. Some of the officers we trained from Baruta we would see again later in the week.

That evening we met with a homeowners' association group in Caracas. Terry Hart did a presentation on personal safety for those present. During the meeting we met an officer by the name of Alejandro Vivas. Alejandro, who had left the seminary because he felt God had called him to be a police officer, expressed great care and concern for his country and his community. He sincerely wants to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement and was very interested in the concept of neighborhood watch meetings. Alejandro allowed the team to lay hands on him and pray for him and the work that lay ahead of him. When we were finished, Alejandro said, You have put me in a very difficult position, but it was the right decision."

We later learned that a congressman was in the audience. He approached Randy Green and asked Randy to help him establish similar neighborhood watch meetings around the country. We also learned that there were several believers present as well. They invited Alejandro to attend their weekly Bible study.

Thursday was an interesting day of training with PTJ, (Venezuela's version of the FBI). The training was conducted at their academy. We were to train with a large class of recruits, but first we were treated to a tour of the facilities. The recruits live at the academy Monday through Friday. They are required to return to the academy by 6:00 pm Sunday. If they are late they are placed under house arrest and are required to spend the following weekend at the academy studying. The academy is a building that was used by Colombians to manufacture cocaine four years ago. The recruits are responsible for all the plumbing, carpentry, and general maintenance at the facility. If an L.A. County Jail inmate lived in the conditions a PTJ recruit lives in, the jail would be shut down.

However, the recruits looked at their facility with a sense of pride, not one of oppression. They are proud of the fact that they have earned and worked hard for everything they have. Recruits are as young as 16 and remain at the academy for 3 to 5 years. They leave the academy with the equivalent of a masters degree in police science.

Two second year recruits, Jesus and Edgar, served as guides and translators for our tour. We quickly developed a close bond with both of them.

This trip provided many special opportunities for us. Our day with PTJ was no exception. As we finished the training, the director gave us permission to talk about morality and ethics as they apply to police work. He gave us permission to refer to God and the Bible during the presentation. Tony Miano shared with the students and staff of the academy. The street in front of the academy was closed to through traffic. With their professors and staff instructors standing around them, the cadets sat in a semi-circle in the street to listen as Tony shared from his heart. He talked about the common stresses and temptations that affect peace officers in both of our countries. He spoke of the many technical manuals that we have to read to help us understand and perform our jobs better. He told them that there was one manual that provided us with more wisdom, discernment, and useful information than any other. That manual was the Bible.

Tony read Psalm 37:1-9 then shared with the group that our prayer for them was that evildoers, both in the U.S. and Venezuela, would be cut off and that those who wait for the Lord would be the ones to inherit the great land of Venezuela.

Because of our time at PTJ, the assistant director of the academy asked Randy to teach a weekly class on ethics and morality, using the Bible as the text book.

While we were training with the cadets at the PTJ Academy, Daniel, our bus driver, took the women and children to a poor village high in the mountains above Caracas. The road to the village was steep and treacherous and the women, Anina in particular, wondered whether they would make it in one piece. They arrived safely, however, and were able to distribute food to some needy families and to share the gospel with them as well.

Throughout the week, after we had finished the training, we invited the officers to join us on Friday for a special day just for them and their families at Parque Tolon, an amusement park in Caracas. We had reserved the park for law enforcement and their families. Las Acacias Church provided logistical support, translators, and their excellent worship team.

On Friday, about 500 officers and family members came to the park. One of the first people to arrive at the park was Carlos Gomez, a young officer from Libertador P.D.. Tony Miano, Tommy Culpepper, Leonard Gandy, and Andres, one of the translators from Las Acacias, took Carlos to lunch at the McDonald's Restaurant across the street from the park. While they downed their Big Mac Combos (which taste pretty much the same in any country), they shared their faith with Carlos. At the conclusion of the meal, they returned to the park where Carlos prayed to receive Christ as his Savior.

During the day, several of our friends prayed to give their lives to the Lord. At the end of the evening, about twenty officers and others came forward at a public invitation. Among them was Henrique Aranguren, the commander of the local police station. Henrique said that he had been avoiding Randy for nearly two years. He added that he would no longer be avoiding Randy, but that he looked forward to studying the Bible with him. The group included Jesus, our young translator from the PTJ Academy and five of his fellow cadets. We also had the privilege of sharing Christ with Gabriella, the wife of our bus driver.

Our trip concluded on Sunday with services at Las Acacias. Most of the officers who had committed their lives to the Lord were in attendance. It was a joy to see the work that God had begun among the officers of Venezuela and we trust that He will complete that work as He has promised in His word.

Here's some more email sent home Sunday evening.

Monday, March 3, was a day to relax and pack for our Tuesday morning flight to Miami. We took time out for a team lunch at a great smorgasbord where we were served all we could eat of an unending variety of meats, sausages, and all the trimmings. During lunch Daniel, our bus driver, prayed to receive Christ as his Savior. What a way to end a great trip!

We are grateful to all of you who partnered with us on this trip through prayer and financial support. We would ask that you continue to pray for the work that was begun and that the Lord would enable Randy to follow up on all of the opportunities that have been provided.