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| National Police of Chile | |
|---|---|
| Agencyname | Carabineros de Chile |
| Nativename | Carabineros de Chile |
| Abbreviation | Carabineros |
| Formed | 1927 |
| Preceding1 | Cuerpo de Policía |
| Country | Chile |
| Sizearea | 756,102 km² |
| Sizepopulation | 19 million |
| Constitution1 | Constitution of Chile |
| Governingbody | Ministry of Interior and Public Security |
| Stationtype | Uniformed police |
| Chief1name | General Director |
| Chief1position | General Director of Carabineros |
| Website | Official website |
National Police of Chile is the national uniformed police force of the Republic of Chile responsible for public order, traffic control, border security, and civil protection. Established in the late 1920s, it operates across continental Chile, including the regions of Santiago, Valparaíso, Antofagasta, Araucanía, and Magallanes, and collaborates with judicial institutions such as the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Supreme Court. The institution interacts with ministries and agencies including the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior and Public Security, Servicio Nacional de Migración, and Policía de Investigaciones.
The force traces institutional origins to earlier bodies like the Cuerpo de Carabineros and the Guardia Civil during the Republic of Chile era and the Parliamentary Republic period, influenced by models from the Spanish Guardia Civil, French Gendarmerie, and Italian Carabinieri. Founding in 1927 followed reforms under Presidents Carlos Ibáñez del Campo and Emiliano Figueroa, with organizational changes during the administrations of Arturo Alessandri and Pedro Aguirre Cerda. During the 1973 Chilean coup d'état and the subsequent military regime led by Augusto Pinochet, the institution was involved in national security operations, interacting with the Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional and the Armed Forces, and later underwent post-dictatorship restructuring tied to constitutional amendments and transitional justice processes led by truth commissions and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In the 21st century, notable events shaping the force include responses to the 2010 Chile earthquake, the 2011 student protests, the 2019–2020 Chilean protests, and cooperative missions with the United Nations and Interpol.
Command is centralized under a General Director appointed via presidential decree and coordinated with the Ministry of Interior and Public Security and the Presidency of the Republic of Chile. Territorial organization follows regional and provincial divisions corresponding to regions like Metropolitana de Santiago, Biobío, Los Lagos, and Tarapacá, with prefectures, subprefectures, and comisarias. Specialized directorates address traffic (Dirección de Tránsito), investigations (Unidad de Investigaciones Policiales), rural policing (Sección de Protección Rural), and air operations (Escuadrilla Aérea), while liaison units coordinate with the Carabineros General Staff, the National Emergency Office (ONEMI), Servicio Nacional para la Prevención y Rehabilitación del Consumo de Drogas y Alcohol, and the Chilean Navy and Chilean Air Force for joint operations. International partnerships include exchanges with the United Nations Police, INTERPOL, and bilateral programs with Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Spain, and the United States.
Primary duties encompass public order maintenance, traffic enforcement on roads such as Ruta 5, border and port security in collaboration with the Servicio Nacional de Aduanas, protection of constitutional authorities including the Palacio de La Moneda, and disaster response alongside the National Forestry Corporation during wildfires. The force provides community policing through neighborhood programs, school safety initiatives involving the Ministry of Education, and crowd-control operations during events like the Viña del Mar International Song Festival and Copa América matches. It supports judicial processes by securing courts such as the Tribunal Constitucional and assisting the Public Defender's Office, while its traffic units enforce the Ley de Tránsito and vehicle inspections coordinated with the Dirección de Vialidad.
The hierarchical ranking system mirrors traditions from gendarmerie models with officer ranks including Subteniente, Teniente, Capitán, Mayor, Teniente Coronel, and Coronel, up to General Director, and non-commissioned ranks such as Carabinero, Cabo, Sargento, and Suboficial Mayor. Insignia incorporate chevrons, stars, and corps badges displayed on uniforms, ceremonial dress, and epaulettes used during state ceremonies at the Palacio Cousiño and military parades on Día de las Glorias del Ejército. Rank progression involves professional evaluations, courses at institutions like the Escuela de Carabineros and the Centro de Formación, and certification recognized by the Servicio Civil.
Uniform and personal equipment include duty uniforms, ballistic helmets, protective shields, and body armor supplied by national manufacturers and international contractors from Spain, Germany, and the United States. Small arms historically and currently used encompass pistols, submachine guns, shotguns, and rifles procured through public tenders regulated by the Directorate of Armament and Material. Vehicle fleets feature marked and unmarked patrol cars, riot-control water cannon trucks, armored personnel carriers, motorcycles, and helicopters such as models used by the Air Support Unit, deployed on highways like Autopista Central, in ports like Valparaíso, and in remote zones including Easter Island. Technological assets include communication systems interoperable with the 133 emergency number, surveillance drones, and radio networks compatible with municipal emergency centers and the National Emergency Office.
Recruitment pathways require candidates to meet age, education, and medical standards established by the Escuela de Formación and selection boards, with alternatives for specialists recruited via public competitions and agreements with universities such as Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Training curricula integrate criminal justice procedures, human rights modules developed with the National Institute of Human Rights, emergency medicine, tactical driving, and language courses for operations near international borders with Argentina and Peru. Advanced training occurs at the Escuela de Carabineros' academies and international exchange programs with the Spanish Guardia Civil, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Carabinieri Corps of Italy.
The institution has been subject to investigations and criticism by domestic bodies like the National Institute of Human Rights, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and international organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for incidents during the 1980s dictatorship, the 2011 student movement, and the 2019–2020 protests, involving allegations of excessive force, use of crowd-control weapons, and treatment of detainees. High-profile cases prompted judicial inquiries in courts such as the Corte Suprema and reforms involving oversight mechanisms, disciplinary proceedings, and legislative debates in the National Congress regarding accountability, use-of-force protocols, and cooperation with truth commissions and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Ongoing reforms engage civil society groups, trade unions, and international partners to align practices with standards set by the United Nations and the Organization of American States.
Category:Law enforcement agencies of Chile