Rosso José Serrano
{{family name hatnote|Serrano|Cadena|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox police officer
|honorific_prefix =
|name = Rosso José Serrano
|honorific_suffix =
|image = Rossoserrano.png
|image_upright =
|alt =
|caption = Then General of the Colombian National Police, Rosso José Serrano personally escorts arrested Cali Cartel drug lord Miguel Rodríguez Orejuela.
|birth_name = Rosso José Serrano Cadena
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|08|30|df=y}}
|birth_place = Vélez, Santander
|death_date =
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|education =
|alma_mater = General Santander Police Cadet School
|known_for = Policeman
|notable_works =
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|department = Colombian National Police
|branch =
|serviceyears = 1960–2000
|status =
|rank = Lieutenant General
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}}
{{short description|Colombian ex-law enforcement officer and politician}}
Rosso José Serrano Cadena (August 30, 1942) is a former General of the Colombian National Police from 1994 to 2000 during Ernesto Samper's presidency and was one of the masterminds behind the dismantling of the Cali Cartel and Medellín Cartel. Serrano received numerous national and international decorations for his work against illicit drugs, drug-trafficking and the restructuring of the Colombian Police. He is currently working as head of the Colombian diplomatic mission to Austria.
Early years
Born in Vélez, Santander, Serrano joined the Colombian National Police in 1960, attended classes in the "General Santander Police Academy" graduating in Police Administration and also received a doctorate in law and political sciences from La Gran Colombia University.[https://unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/pressrels/2003/bio674.html New Permanent Representative of Colombia Presents Credentials] United Nations (13 May 2003)
Public image and recognition
Serrano was described with words like "hero" in international media outlets.{{Cite news|date=2000-06-15|title=Colombia's top cop bows out|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2000/06/15/colombias-top-cop-bows-out|access-date=2021-07-10|issn=0013-0613|quote=But he earned respect at home and his drug-fighting efforts made him a hero in the United States, especially to Republicans in Congress, who channelled much aid to his force. He was twice chosen as the world's top cop by the International Association of Police Chiefs.}}{{Cite web|last=Tribune|first=Timothy Pratt Special to the|title=COLOMBIA'S DRUG FIGHTER 'WORLD'S BEST' COP|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-12-03-9912030126-story.html|access-date=2021-07-10|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2000-06-14|title=Drug fighter in Colombia is resigning|url=https://www.deseret.com/2000/6/14/19512639/drug-fighter-in-colombia-is-resigning|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Deseret News|language=en}} The American Congressman Bob Barr called him a "true hero in the War on Drugs".{{Cite web|title=Congressional Record, Volume 146 Issue 81 (Friday, June 23, 2000)|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2000-06-23/html/CREC-2000-06-23-pt1-PgE1087.htm|access-date=2021-07-10|website=www.govinfo.gov}} Serrano was twice chosen as the World's Top Cop by the International Association of Police Chiefs.
The Los Angeles Times wrote in 2000:
Serrano’s ability to anticipate change and respond has allowed him to survive four defense ministers and two presidents during his more than five years as police director. That’s impressive for a kid from the little town of Velez who admits that he joined the police at age 17 because he liked the uniform. “Serrano is more than a great policeman,” said Myles Frechette, former U.S. ambassador to Colombia.{{Cite web|last=|last2=|last3=|first3=|last4=|last5=|last6=|last7=|last8=|first8=|last9=|date=2000-05-03|title=To Colombians, He Is the War on Drugs|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-03-mn-25970-story.html|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}
Parapolitics Scandal
{{main|2006–2007 Colombian parapolitics scandal}}
On May 16, 2007 in a court hearing in Medellín, former paramilitary warlord and commander of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) Salvatore Mancuso declared that the former director in chief of the Colombian National Police and current ambassador of Colombia to Austria Rosso José Serrano had intervened on behalf of the AUC leaders captured in La Guajira Department which included Rodrigo Tovar Pupo (aka "Jorge 40").{{cite news|url=http://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/2007-05-17/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3559682.html|title=Salvatore Mancuso se ratificó en sus acusaciones contra general Rosso José Serrano|date=17 May 2007|publisher=El Tiempo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519072507/http://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/2007-05-17/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3559682.html |archive-date=19 May 2007 |url-status=dead}}
Popular culture
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.fas.org/irp/news/1996/4207603-4211942.htm fas.org]
- [http://www.sharedresponsibility.gov.co/index.php?idcategoria=589 Rosso Jose Serrano speech - European Union]{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}
- [http://www.calle22.com/articulos/743/ Calle22 on Rosso Jose Serrano]
- [http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/pressrels/2003/bio674.html Univienna.org]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Serrano, Rosso}}
Category:Colombian police officers