The Carabineros de Chile (English: Carabiniers of Chile) are the Chilean national law enforcementgendarmerie, who have jurisdiction over the entire national territory of the Republic of Chile. Created in 1927, their mission is to maintain order and enforce the laws of Chile. They reported to the Ministry of National Defense through the Undersecretary of Carabineros until 2011 when the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security gained full control over them. They are in practice separated fully from the three other military branches by department but still are considered part of the armed forces. Chile also has an investigative police force, the Investigations Police of Chile, also under the Interior and Public Security Ministry; a Maritime Police also exists for patrol of Chile's coastline.
The origins of the Carabiniers can be traced back to night watchmen such as the Dragones de la Reina (Queen's Dragoons) (created in 1758 and later renamed the Dragoons of Chile in 1812) and other organizations that fulfilled functions such as the watch and local policing.
Later, cities such as Santiago and Valparaíso created their own city police forces. In 1881 the Rural Police (Policía Rural) was created for the rural areas of the country. However, the main problem with these police services was that they were dependent on local authorities for day-to-day decision making. This led to local officials abusing this power for their own political ends. In 1896 the Fiscal Police (Policía Fiscal) was created to serve the cities.
The first policing organization with the name "Carabiniers" was the Corps of Carabineros, in Spanish Cuerpo de Carabineros (with similar meaning as the Italian Carabinieri), formed in 1903 to bring law and order to the conflictive Araucanía region of Southern Chile (then much larger than today's region), formerly the Gendarme Corps, which would later be merged with the Army's 5th Carabineros Regiment and the Rural Police. The Carabinier Regiment was then a Chilean Army unit, thus the reason why the Carabineros of today sport military ranks and insignia. In 1908 the Carabineros' School (Escuela de Carabineros, currently located in Providencia) was created, which until 1935 trained all officers and non-commissioned sworn personnel.
Carabineros de Chile (1927)
On April 27, 1927, President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo merged the Fiscal Police, the Rural Police, and the existing Corps of Carabineros to form the Carabineros de Chile, one unified, paramilitary and national security institution under the direction of the national government. The organization still carries the name given to it by Ibáñez, who became the Carabineros' first Director General. In 1929 its official coat of arms – two white crossed carbines in a green shield – was formally adopted. The service in 1930 became one of the pioneer mobile police forces in Latin America. By 1933 the Investigations Police of Chile was created in the basis of the investigations service. The roots of today's NCO School began in 1934 when in Santiago's Macul commune, the service's mounted command began training NCOs and enlisted personnel independently. In 1939 the service received its own staff college, the Police Sciences Academy, and its own equestrian demonstration unit, the Cuadro Verde, and the mounted training squadron began the present day NCO School in 1951.
The Air Operations Prefecture, the air arm of the service, was raised in 1960.
In 1962 it became the first Chilean uniformed service to include women in its ranks. The next year, the Children and Fatherland Foundation was formed as its social responsibility arm for troubled kids and preteens.
Military dictatorship of Chile (1973–1990)
In 1973, the Carabineros, headed by General Cesar Mendoza, later appointed Director General, joined the Chilean coup of 1973 under the lead of the Army, Navy and Air Force leaders, that overthrew President Salvador Allende. As such, the Carabineros' commander was a formal member of the Military Government Junta, as well as members of the institution taking on administrative roles, such as being in charge of the Ministry of Education.
In 1974, formal command of the service was handed over to the Chilean Ministry of National Defense, and it was integrated into the ranks and traditions of the Chilean Armed Forces as a result. Until 2011, this was the case for the service, from that year onward it is a part of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security.
The Basic Training Center, which trains future personnel of the other ranks, was created in 1979.
In April 1989, the Gloria y Victoria (Glory and Victory) monument was inaugurated on the Alameda during a ceremony presided over by Director General Rodolfo Stange. The monument serves as a memorial to uniformed Carabineros who lost their lives in the line of duty, honoring their service and sacrifice in maintaining public safety.[4]
Transition to democracy (1990s)
During the period of transition to democracy, Carabineros left power in 1990 and began a process of institutional modernization and adaptation to a democratic framework. The force shifted its focus from the political role it had assumed during the military regime to functions centered on public order, crime prevention, and community-oriented policing. This period also marked the beginning of reforms in training, accountability, and transparency, alongside efforts to strengthen relations with civil society and improve the public image of the institution.[5]
Creation of O.S.10
In 1994, Carabineros de Chile established the Department of Private Security, Arms and Explosives Control (Departamento de Seguridad Privada, Control de Armas y Explosivos), known as O.S.10, with the purpose of regulating and overseeing private security services, as well as controlling the use and possession of firearms and explosives in the country. The unit’s functions include authorizing and supervising private security companies, approving training programs for security personnel, and ensuring compliance with legal standards regarding security operations. It also carries out inspections, applies sanctions when necessary, and works in coordination with other state institutions to maintain public safety and prevent the misuse of weapons.[6]
Preventive Security Quadrant Plan
The Preventive Security Quadrant Plan (Plan Cuadrante de Seguridad Preventiva) was launched in 1998 as a community-oriented policing strategy aimed at improving citizen security through territorial organization and increased police presence. Under the plan, urban areas are divided into geographic "quadrants," each assigned a fixed number of officers and patrol vehicles to respond to emergencies and engage in preventive patrols. The initiative emphasizes direct contact between police officers and residents, allowing for better identification of local security needs and fostering trust between the community and Carabineros. Over the years, the plan has expanded to multiple regions of Chile and has been adapted to address changing patterns of crime.[7]
Launch of the Virtual Police Station
In 2019, the Carabineros de Chile launched the Virtual Police Station (Comisaría Virtual) as part of the Safe Streets program during the second administration of President Sebastián Piñera. The platform allows citizens to report crimes, request certificates, obtain safe-conduct permits, submit anonymous information, and initiate family reunification processes, providing a centralized and secure online interface for accessing Carabineros’ services.[8]
The National Institute of Human Rights (INDH) reported a total of 232 eye injuries by the 25th of November, 163 as a result of rubber bullets.[10] Regarding the use of rubber bullets Sergio Micco, the director of the INDH, said that the organization had observed over 161 demonstrations in which they were used despite it being against protocol because of a lack of physical danger to carabineros.[11]
Mission
The Carabineros' mission is to maintain or re-establish order and security in Chilean society through civic education, service to the community, police work, and in a war situation, to act as a military force (all their members have military training). Under the current Chilean Constitution the Carabineros are integrated directly into the Armed Forces in a state of emergency to better guarantee the public order.
There is also an Elite Corps in charge of security in La Moneda Palace and for the President – the Presidential Guard Group whose cavalry troop is one of two horse guards units of the Republic, the latter having been raised recently and also serves as the youngest, and also sports a foot guards infantry battalion.
The National Band of the Carabineros, the premiere representative marching band of the service (created in 1929), occasionally performs on state occasions and during the Guard Mounting at the La Moneda Palace and Citizenry Square on selected days with the Guard Group.
Emergencies
The emergency number of the police is 133 which is connected to the Central Communications (CENCO), closest to the nearest location of a police station.
This number will provide medical help, police or fire support. If one would need to communicate directly with any of these services this list of numbers will be useful:
132: This number connects directly to the Fire Station closest to the residence concerned, under the Chilean National Firefighters Council's constituent fire services
131: This number connects to the Emergency Medical Care Service or SAMU
134: This number connects to the Investigations Police of Chile or PDI
137: This number connects to the Maritime Rescue Unit (Navy)
Additional phone numbers are also designated to Central Communications for specific queries:
Dodge Charger 2014 of the Chilean PoliceCarabineros work out of a Sprinter Mobile Command Station in SantiagoCarabineros escort a VIP leaving La Moneda Palace
Chilean and foreign NCOs enter the service through enrollment at the Carabineros Formation School and receive further training as corporals at the Carabineros NCO Academy, both located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, and some of them have later training at the various service schools of the Carabineros specializing in frontier defense, horsemanship and K-9 training and handling skills.
Officers of the Carabiners, native born or foreign officers having scholarships, start out as officer aspirants at the Carabinier Officers School "Pres. Gen. Carlos Ibanez del Campo" in Santiago, and after graduating become sublieutenants either in Chile or in their home countries. Later training is provided by the Police Sciences Academy also in Santiago, and in the aforementioned specialty schools of the force.
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