TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — About a hundred police officers in Honduras are protesting over the suspension of 1,400 investigators this week while authorities conduct drug tests, polygraph questioning and other checks looking for organized crime ties.
The demonstrators said Thursday it wasn't right for the government to make them all look like criminals. They are demanding an explanation from Honduras police chief Juan Carlos Bonilla and say they have not been told to take any polygraph or drug tests.
The suspension of the criminal investigations unit in charge of homicides and organized crime was announced Wednesday by the Security Ministry.
Some protesters accuse the government of trying to replace police with soldiers.
Honduras is the world's most violent country, with 85 to 91 killings per 100,000 people. Drug trafficking has spiked in recent years.
