The director of one of Colombia’s largest prisons, Elmer Fernandez, was shot dead in Bogota. His killing comes after the government declared a “prison emergency” in February due to increased violence in prisons, including riots, homicides, attacks, and threats against personnel. Fernandez, a former police colonel, was targeted by gunmen while returning home from work, with no security escort or armored car. He had received death threats after implementing new policies to crack down on criminal activity in the jail, including unannounced searches of inmates and their cells. President Gustavo Petro condemned the murder and vowed to continue efforts to improve prison security.
Colombia’s national police ordered a lockdown in Bogota to find the suspects responsible for Fernandez’s killing. The country’s prisons are known for being infiltrated by organized gangs that engage in smuggling drugs and running extortion schemes. Inmates at La Modelo, the prison where Fernandez was the director, have been intentionally killed in riots, while another prison saw dozens killed in a fire during a riot. Political analyst Jorge Restrepo noted that these criminal gangs have significant power and reach across the country, likely orchestrating Fernandez’s murder as he led an operation to separate gang members. The prison authority has warned that other officials are also at risk, with several guards having been killed or survived attempts on their lives.
Justice Minister Nestor Osuna expressed solidarity with Fernandez’s family and announced a major police operation to catch the assailants. Despite the threats and violence faced by prison officials, the government lacks the capacity to provide armored vehicles for their protection. Daniel Gutierrez, the director of the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute, acknowledged the risks faced by officials in Colombia’s overcrowded penitentiaries, with over 550 officials receiving death threats in the past two years. President Petro emphasized that the government will not be intimidated by such attacks and will continue efforts to improve prison security and combat organized crime within the prison system.
The murder of Elmer Fernandez highlights the challenges faced by officials trying to maintain order in Colombia’s violent and gang-infested prisons. The surge in prison violence and threats against personnel prompted the government to declare a state of emergency, but the targeting of Fernandez shows the dangers officials continue to face despite these measures. Colombia’s prisons are plagued by organized gangs that operate from within, engaging in criminal activities that extend beyond prison walls. The killing of Fernandez underscores the need for greater security measures and resources to protect prison officials and combat the power of these criminal organizations.
President Petro and General Salamanca vowed to continue efforts to improve security and combat violence in Colombian prisons in the wake of Fernandez’s murder. The government’s response to the emergency situation includes a massive police operation to hunt down the assailants responsible for the director’s killing. The issue of organized gangs operating within prisons poses a significant challenge to authorities, as these groups have the power to orchestrate violence both inside and outside of the prison walls. Fernandez’s murder serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those working to maintain order and security in Colombia’s overcrowded and volatile prison system.
