Tourist Town Mourns Its Slain Police Chief

A funeral procession for the slain police chief wound its way through a dusty hillside neighborhood Sunday as authorities moved to restore a sense of order in time for the high season in this popular tourist destination.

Carlos Bowser Miret, the 49-year-old director of public safety, was ambushed outside his home Saturday morning by two masked assailants -- one of whom sprayed his car with several rounds from an AK-47 assault rifle. Police have not identified suspects or determined a motive.

On Sunday, hundreds of police officers and mourners gathered for a closed-casket funeral that ended with the traditional last roll call on an unpaved street outside police headquarters. Mayor Antonio Macias Garay called out the names of current commanders -- each of whom responded, “Presente.” When the mayor called “Carlos Bowser Miret” a wail of sirens pierced the silence and dozens of officers yelled in unison: “Presente.”

Bowser’s slaying is the latest in an unprecedented wave of violence in the Tijuana metropolitan area, much of it generated by warring drug cartels. More than 165 people -- including two Baja California state police officers -- have been killed so far this year in Tijuana, a nearly 80% jump from last year’s total.

Rosarito Beach’s strip of rowdy bars and nightclubs have not, for the most part, been affected by the violence, according to Mexican and U.S. officials. A 57-year-old American woman living in a trailer park was slain earlier this month in what U.S. consulate officials say was an isolated case.

Still, city officials and local businessmen are concerned that tourists will stay away. The mayor cut short a trip to Mexico City, and the City Council was expected to name a new police chief within a few days.

“Rosarito is safe for Americans, for Mexicans, for anyone who comes here,” said Macias before leaving for the burial in Tijuana.

Rosarito Beach, about 16 miles south of Tijuana, has long been a favored destination for Southern California young people who crowd the dance floors, and families who enjoy the wide beach and dining at nearby Puerto Nuevo, famous for its lobster dinners.

Hundreds of visitors came this weekend during the 80th anniversary of the landmark Rosarito Beach Hotel, where the lobby features photographs of famous guests, including Orson Welles, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Glenn Miller.

News of the slaying hadn’t reached many people at poolside. The big test will be the turnout on Memorial Day, the traditional start of the busy summer season, said Hugo Torres, a former mayor and owner of the hotel.

“You can walk around anywhere in Rosarito; it’s safe. As long as you don’t get involved in drug dealing, you won’t have a problem,” Torres said.

Walter Steinkrauss, a real estate developer who visits each year from Boston, agreed. “I’ve never seen the bad side of Rosarito,” he said.

But Ruben Navarro of Los Angeles, who was visiting with his wife and daughter, said the slaying concerned him.

“It was a shock. You figure this kind of thing happens in Tijuana, not Rosarito,” he said. “Rosarito is known to be a lot safer.”

Navarro, who owns a time-share in Rosarito, said he may think twice before returning. “Why take any chances?” he asked.

Bowser’s slaying is still shrouded in mystery. Six people detained after the killing were released after questioning.

The state attorney general’s office, which investigates homicides, did not announce new developments in the case.

Bowser, a father of three, was a bodyguard and driver for two previous mayors before being appointed as director of public safety in December. Though considered inexperienced, he earned a reputation for toughness and honesty, according to police officers, local journalists and city officials.

Bowser fired 17 police officers suspected of extorting money from tourists, formed an auxiliary police force and cracked down on stores that sell narcotics, said Felipe Hernandez Villela, a city spokesman.

Some local officials believe he may have earned the wrath of drug dealers. But police slayings, according to Mexican law enforcement experts, typically raise suspicions of police complicity with drug cartels.

Bowser’s slaying had many hallmarks of an organized crime hit. The killers used high-powered rifles and fled the scene in a convoy of three vehicles. A black mask, similar to those used by a known group of assassins, was found nearby.

Bowser may have been standing up to drug dealers or taken sides, said David Shirk, director of the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego. Shirk compared the current battle for control of the Baja California narcotics trafficking corridor to a shark-infested tank, where victims float up, but it’s difficult to know what’s happening beneath the surface.

“It’s a narco feeding frenzy,” Shirk said.