The handling of the Juárez femicide by local police is a farce. It is speculated that members of the force are involved in the murders, and those who aren't directly murdering the women are assisting through negligent investigative procedures and cover-ups. This unprofessional and morally corrupt culture leads to a larger problem within the Mexican government. With examples of police incompetence becoming everyday news and the lack of substantial evidence to make arrests, it seems unlikely that the murders in Juárez will ever be solved. When two bus drivers were arrested in 2001 for their alleged involvement in the murders, the subsequent case raised more questions about police cover-up than evidence against the men.

Maquiladora bus drivers Javier (aka Victor J.) Garcia Uribe and Gustavo Gonzales Meza were arrested in 2001 for the rape, torture and killing of eight women whose remains were found in the outskirts of Juarez. Fernando Medina, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office claimed both men "belong to a gang whose members are serving time for at least 20 of the rape-murders." In 2002 the attorney representing Gonzalez, Mario Escobedo Jr., was shot dead execution style by Chihuahua state police. This happened one week after Escobedo Jr. appeared on ABC's 20/20 Downtown program revealing that his client was tortured into confessing.

Allegations of police abuse were supported by the former head of the prison detaining Garcia and Gonzales. He was forced into leaving his post after documenting signs of abuse when the pair returned from ex- attorney general Arturo Gonzalez Rascon's office who arrested the pair. The prison director released a doctor's report suggesting the men were tortured with electric prods. More evidence of police cover-up in this case include the resignation of Chihuahua's state forensic chief Oscar Maynez Grijolva following pressure to fabricate evidence against the bus drivers.

Further evidence of police cover-up surrounds the death of lawyer Escobedo Jr.. A confrontation arose when police claimed to have mistaken him for a known fugitive. Police Spokesman Marco A. Moreno reported in the El Paso Times "[Escobedo Jr.] refused to stop when officers asked him to pull over, and then he shot at them. Our Officers returned fire." When police were questioned about why their patrol cars did not have any bullet holes like that of Escobedo Jr.'s, a car miraculously appeared shortly afterwards with bullet holes.

What originally appeared to be an open and shut case was turning pear-shaped. DNA evidence contradicted the original list of victims allegedly killed by Garcia and Gonzales. When the pair was arrested, Juárez authorities identified the victims as Maria Acosta (19), Claudia Gonzales (20), Esmerelda Herrera (15), Guadalupe Luna (20), Barbara Martinez (20), Veronica Martinez (19 (no relation to Barbara)), Laura Ramos (17) and Mayra Reyes (17). DNA results said otherwise. None of the victims named by authorities matched the DNA collected from the bodies. Fresh tests by the prosecutors confirmed a match with Veronica Martinez, but not the other seven.

Little has been documented about the death of Gonzales, one of the bus drivers, while in custody. Gonzales died in 2002 following complications after receiving surgery in prison. Some believe foul play was responsible. His death raised suspicion that the two bus drivers were framed, making it appear the authorities had control of the investigation.

There are numerous other examples of police cover-up in the Juárez murders. Most recently, Jose Luis Vasconcelos, the federal prosecutor in charge of organised crime, has met resistance from Chihuahua authorities. He is investigating the possibility that some of the women have been murdered by organ traffickers. As illegal organ trading is a federal crime, some believe this is a justified reason for federal involvement in the case. Vasconcelos also tracks major drug traffickers which is something Juárez is never short of. When interviewed by the Washington Post, Vasconcelos claimed that local authorities "have not given me the bodies, nor the autopsies. They have not given me anything. They have hidden everything from me." Since making that statement the state have agreed to cooperate.

Further resistance to federal assistance was experienced by Oscar Defassiux Trechuelo and Eduardo Muriel Melero, two Mexican federal investigators sent to Juárez. They reported that they were unable to comprehensively investigate the murders because state authorities were protecting local police. After evidence implicating local police officers surfaced Defassiux and Muriel were sent back to Mexico City. These allegations are echoed by CNN who reported "At least eight former police officers have also been arrested in connection with the murders, all of whom were released from custody or escaped." You can't expect much from a police force whose former police chief, Hector Lastra, was questioned about allegedly forming an adolescent prostitution ring.

There remains a conspiracy of silence in Juárez with authorities reluctant to speak. Those who do, find themselves inconvenienced afterwards. A federal deputy attorney general from Mexico City, Jorge Campos Mutillo, was transferred to another job and refused all interviews after speaking with the press about the Juárez murders. He claimed that some of the murders were committed by the sons of wealthy Mexican families who used their money and position of power to protect them. Perhaps these members of the Juárez drug cartel used their power to silence him also.

It is unlikely that there will be any closure for the hundreds of families who have lost their daughters in the Juárez femicide. Police corruption is engrained in the Mexican culture and until it is eradicated there is little chance of the murders in Juárez being solved, despite authorities knowing who is responsible. Legendary political post-punk group The Pop Group said it best with their 1980 album How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? Twenty-four years on and we find that the Juárez police don't just tolerate it, they cover it up.