At a memorial service for the assassinated police chief on Saturday, Fresnillo's mayor, Saúl Monreal, appealed to the Mexican central government and military not to abandon Fresnillo's residents.
More than 1,400 police officers have been murdered in Mexico since President Andrés Manuel López Obrador came to power just over three years ago.
And the worst situation is right now in the state of Zacatecas, where cartels from Jalisco and Sinaloa are fighting over strategic routes for drugs and weapons.
Fear among police officers
When SVT visited the city of Fresnillo, the local police chief Tony Macedo told that the fear is widespread within the corps and that several police officers have left their service recently:
- Fear is everywhere.
He who says he is not afraid is either stupid or not really wise!
When organized crime gains influence through corruption and violence, many Mexican local politicians find themselves in a very difficult position.
And Mayor Saúl Monreal of the Morena ruling party says he has no choice but to treat the cartels with silk gloves.
- Now that two cartels are at war, it is best to lie low.
Then there will be no problems, Monreal told SVT.