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Mexico Cans Police Chief, 20, Who Fled

Marisol Valles Garcia was apparently seeking asylum after death threats

By the Associated Press

Posted Mar 7, 2011 3:59 PM CST

(AP) – A 20-year-old police chief in a violent Mexican border town was fired today for apparently abandoning her post after receiving death threats. Marisol Valles Garcia was granted a leave of absence from March 2-7 to travel to the United States, but "Since there was no notification of a need to extend the period of her absence, the mayor has decided to remove her from office," said city officials in a statement. Her whereabouts still aren't known.

Local media have since reported that Valles Garcia was seeking asylum in the United States after having received death threats. A Human Rights Commission official called the firing "a bit hasty," and said he would ask the mayor to retract the move: "Right now Marisol needs support, and one way to be supportive is to leave her in office. To fire her is to leave her completely alone." Valles Garcia was named police chief of Praxedis G. Guerrero in October. The town had been without a police chief since her predecessor was killed in July 2009.

In this  Oct. 20, 2010 file photo, 20-year-old Marisol Valles Garcia sits at her desk after her swearing-in ceremony as new police chief of the border town of Praxedis G. Guerrero, near Ciudad Juarez.
In this Oct. 20, 2010 file photo, 20-year-old Marisol Valles Garcia sits at her desk after her swearing-in ceremony as new police chief of the border town of Praxedis G. Guerrero, near Ciudad Juarez.   (Raymundo Ruiz)
In this  Oct. 20, 2010 file photo, 20-year-old Marisol Valles Garcia listens to a question after her swearing-in ceremony as the new police chief of the border town of Praxedis G. Guerrero, Mexico.
In this Oct. 20, 2010 file photo, 20-year-old Marisol Valles Garcia listens to a question after her swearing-in ceremony as the new police chief of the border town of Praxedis G. Guerrero, Mexico.   (Raymundo Ruiz)
Marisol Valles, is presented as chief of police of the northern Mexican border town of Praxedis Guadalupe Guerrero, in Chihuahua state, on October 20, 2010.
Marisol Valles, is presented as chief of police of the northern Mexican border town of Praxedis Guadalupe Guerrero, in Chihuahua state, on October 20, 2010.   (Getty Images)
Marisol Valles Garcia inspects the prisoners' cell after her swearing-in ceremony as the new police chief of Praxedis G. Guerrero, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010.
Marisol Valles Garcia inspects the prisoners' cell after her swearing-in ceremony as the new police chief of Praxedis G. Guerrero, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010.   (AP Photo/Raymundo Ruiz)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
elimpostor
Mar 8, 2011 2:46 AM CST
I would hire such a brave administrative task force. She was pretty clever having gained so much publicity, though she really exposed herself. She deserves some credit, or better yet, cash.
saucier111
Mar 8, 2011 12:55 AM CST
I don't know if Wyatt Earp would of took that job!
MakeBelieve
Mar 7, 2011 11:21 PM CST
Hey Babe,your hot,wanna live in northern Illinois?

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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