The Reality of the Current Police Action In Sosua
You know some tourists, new people, may view a police presence as being a positive. What some people might view as being "hassled" other tourist may view it as "hey this area has good security and I feel safer here". Why do many inexperienced tourists stay in all-inclusives and not venture from their well guarded hotel - fear of being hassled by local people. So having police on the street might be viewed as a positive thing by those types of people and help rather than hurt.
I think you are right. Whether or not some people on this board think they are "real police" has nothing to do with it. The presence of fully uniformed police officers, especially since they are not carrying rifles, will be viewed as positive by many tourists.
Here is the problem with the "Politur" who have descended upon Sos?a in this latest police action. They station themselves at certain spots along Pedro Clisante and are in groups of two or three at each spot or corner. At times there are more than 12 stationed along this small section of Pedro Clisante. The "average" tourist walking down the street does not have the first impression of
"hey this area has good security and I feel safer here". Their first impression is
"what the hell is going on here that they need groups of police at every corner for a 70 meter stretch of street?" I have had quite a few tourists ask me this since this police action started.
It does not convery a feeling of safety. It actually causes apprehension as if something dangerous is happening to warrant so many police in a small area. Also, anyone observing their actions can see they are doing nothing more than questioning and detaining unescorted girls they deem to be prostitutes. And while they are so concerned with these women, they allow motoconchos to drive in the opposite direction of traffic. They allow vehicles to stop for an inordinate amount of time on the left side of the street causing traffic stoppage. They allow many people to walk along this same street they are supposed to be making safer, with guns blatantly displayed tucked into their waistband with the grip and the end of the clip sticking out. They allow groups of five to ten guys, who's presence is definitely intimidating to tourists, to congregate together in front of the discos blocking the sidewalk. I can go on but I won't. The point being they were sent there for one primary purpose and unfortunately the concern and safety of tourists isn't it. And the image they are projecting is not one of calm security but of pending tension and apprehension.
Unfortunately this is now a daily routine and realistically not helping the image of Sos?a in the eyes of the tourists who actually have to witness this pathetic bulls##t.
If anyone is under the illusion that this police action will actually "clean-up" and improve Sos?a, it shows only one thing, YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON. Sure they are successfull at detaining and scaring away plenty of "working girls", so what?? The girls who come here from other towns such as Santiago, La Vega, Moca, Santo Domingo, etc. will stop coming here. Great, mission accomplished. Now what? Well I'll tell you now what...now they are creating a town where only the most desperate "working girls" will dare venture out. And who might they be? The drug addicts and theives, and the ones whose drug addicted theiving pimps are lurking the streets waiting for them to earn money. Now they can't earn money selling sex, so many will turn to blatant theivery. It has already started and is getting worse. Fortunately most people haven't witnessed it, but believe me, it's happening.
If the "powers that be" actually believe they are improving Sos?a they are in for a big surprise. They are forcing many people into desparate situations and the outcome might not be what they expected. Hopefully they will see the folly of their ways before the situation gets out of hand.