In the municipality of Igualapa, Guerrero, the police presence has been reduced to just a fraction of what it was a few years ago. Of a force of 21 officers, only five remain on duty, including the female police officer who, despite her youth, has become a symbol of resistance to the onslaught of organized crime.

The violence and threats from criminal groups seeking to take over the municipality have left a tragic toll: four police officers dead and 11 deserters in just a few days. At the end of June, the Igualapa municipal police force had 21 officers. However, an armed attack claimed the lives of four police officers, including the deputy director of Public Security, Pablo Martínez López, alias "La Yegua." The following day, 11 of his colleagues deserted, leaving only five officers, including the young police officer, who decided not to abandon her uniform or her community, having to protect more than 15,000 inhabitants and 13 rural communities. Since then, fear has gripped the population, although authorities assure that there is no curfew and that they have the support of the Army, the National Guard, and the State Police to maintain security.

The beginning of the crisis

The attack that changed everything occurred at kilometer 200 of the Acapulco-Pinotepa Nacional highway, in San José Las Palmas, where armed civilians ambushed the police officers. The attack left three officers and the deputy chief dead in a scene that highlighted the seriousness of the situation. The criminal response was immediate and brutal: armed groups began to harass the local government, trying to take control of the police and the territory.

The website La Silla Rota points out that the government The state has deployed reinforcements and has captured alleged criminal leaders, such as Alfredo "N", alias "El Moro", and killed others in an effort to regain control. However, the streets remain deserted and families remain locked away out of fear,in a scenario that reflects the institutional abandonment and the security crisis that plagues many regions of the country.

Resistance Amidst Fear

La Silla Rota told the story of the young police officer who prefers to remain anonymous, and reflects the harsh reality faced by many communities in Mexico. Covered in a black cloak, she enters the sanctuary of the Lord of Forgiveness to pray and ask for protection, while she continues to patrol the empty and silent streets of a town that was once a refuge of peace and now seems like hell.

The violence has forced businesses to close, families to be confined, and people to abandon the streets, leaving the community in a constant state of fear. Despite the threats and constant risk, the young police officer decided to stay. "My community needs me," he says calmly, holding a long weapon and with his faith intact. His bravery contrasts with the desertion of other officers who preferred to abandon their duties in the face of the escalating violence. The resilience of these few members is today a symbol of hope in a municipality where the state's presence seems increasingly weak. The situation in Guerrero is not isolated. According to the most recent report from Causa en Común, at least 13 police officers were killed across Mexico in the last week of June, bringing the total number of officers killed by 2025 to 212.

The ambush in Igualapa was one of the most serious cases, where four police officers lost their lives in a single attack. The states of Sinaloa, Veracruz, Michoacán, and Baja California have the highest levels of armed violence against law enforcement.

The organization warned that violence against police officers has increased by 37% compared to the same period last year, with most attacks occurring on days off or in direct ambushes.

The reality in municipalities like Igualapa reflects the abandonment and vulnerability in which security forces operate, often without guarantees or minimum conditions to carry out their work.

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