This Thursday, Major Édgar Iván Pérez assumed leadership of the Medium Security Jail and Penitentiary of Bogotá, La Modelo, at a critical moment for the institution.
The appointment of Major Édgar Iván Pérez occurs almost a month after the murder of retired Colonel Elmer Fernández, the previous director of the penitentiary center, which occurred in Bogotá.
Édgar Iván Pérez, a native of Santiago, Norte de Santander, has vast experience in prison management. He has led important penitentiary centers in cities such as Cali, Bucaramanga, Ocaña and Pamplona.
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In addition, he has played key roles as commander of the Regional Directorates of the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (Inpec) in the North, West and East regions. His outstanding career earned him recognition as Best Inpec Officer in 2020.
Pérez is an industrial engineer with studies and a diploma in Senior Management from the Nueva Granada Military University, in addition to having knowledge in Human Rights and Public Administration. This solid academic and professional profile positions him as an ideal candidate to face La Modelo’s current challenges.
A murder that shook Inpec
The murder of Colonel Elmer Fernández on May 16 shocked the country. Fernández had left his office around four in the afternoon, heading to his house in a gray private vehicle, without an escort despite the recent threats he had received.
He was intercepted on Carrera 30 by a motorcycle with a grill, and a single shot, which entered through the side window of the vehicle, took his life instantly.
The colonel was not alone; He was accompanied by an official who was not injured. According to General José Gualdrón, commander of the Bogotá Metropolitan Police, the vehicle stopped at the home of the deputy director of the prison before being hit by the attackers.
Threats and security in La Modelo
After Fernández’s murder, the security situation in La Modelo became even more tense. Nancy del Socorro Pérez, who served as the director in charge of the prison, received threats in a pamphlet that demanded the transfer of certain inmates from yard 4A. The message warned that if the demands were not met within 72 hours, both she and her staff would be considered a “military objective.”
The intimidation suggests a possible connection with the motives behind Fernández’s murder, reflecting a worrying situation of insecurity and pressure on prison authorities.
With the arrival of Major Édgar Iván Pérez, it is expected that La Modelo can reinforce its security measures and restore stability within the prison. The prison community and citizens in general are attentive to the actions that the new director will take to face the challenges and ensure the safety of all those involved.
