The banking, industrial, and auxiliary police in Mexico is a unique policing model well-structured and used since the 20s. Most auxiliary and banking police forces in Mexico started as private institutions while others were recently formed under government supervision. Some are considered trustworthy and effective, others are new and untested, and some are surrounded by corruption scandals.

Most offer the same services, armed perimeter security, custodians (cash-in-transit like service), government auxiliary security forces, general event security, etc, yet the more specialized have expanded their services to risk assessments, UAVs support, close protection, K9 services, infrastructure protection, mining security, railway and transport network security and so on. Among these, the most specialized is likely Mexico's City PBI and the Federal Protection Service.

This report will introduce the main auxiliary and banking forces in Mexico.

Banking and Industrial Police (PBI) – 1941

16 - 18,000 members

The Banking and Industrial Police (PBI) has been iconic for being one of the first to provide security services to public and private companies. In the 1930s, banks, and industry had to hire civilian guards which were very limited by the law so with the need to improve surveillance and protection of all types of private companies in the Federal District, the president appointed Colonel Arturo Godínez Reyes to direct the PBI, which began its activities in 1941 in the National Bank of Mexico.

Then in 1984, the PBI was recognized as a community police force, so they would no longer be under the orders of the head of government of Mexico City but would become part of the Secretariat of Citizen Security. The PBI currently has 16,000 police officers in different units such as Tactical Group (HUSSARES and TITANIUM), K9 unit, war band and Sinaloa band, close protection units for dignitaries (from the city and embassies) and private executives, custodians and cash-in-transit guards, public transport protection units, procedural security agents, probation officers, grenadiers and services for massive events, and citizen security units (reinforces surveillance and protection work on the streets).

They also have extensive infrastructure such as a Police Operations Center, a C2, their own medical facilities, and training grounds where they train PBI cadets and other auxiliary forces in specialized courses like the Puebla and Michoacan Auxiliary Police forces. The main difference between them and the regular Mexico City Police is that they only spend 3 months in the academy compared to 6.

They are among the most trusted organizations in the region due to their proximity to the public, their progressive initiatives (they have private insurance, 30 days of vacations, offer a special police high school program, and give awards for conducting meritorious actions ), and sometimes even offer their services outside the Mexico City. They are well-liked in Mexico City because they are well dressed (they have a better budget than the PA), they are rarely in vehicles (which makes them more accessible for the public), and because they guard half the metro and bus stations and have been able to capitalize on it through social media. Their media is constantly showing their work in the subway, most notably by helping pregnant ladies give emergency labor, helping the blind and old take the train, defending women from sexual harassment, and rescuing dogs.

CDMX Auxiliary Police – 1941

25,000 – 30,000 members

The origins of the Auxiliary Police in Mexico City date back to the 1920s, after the Mexican Revolution when migration and displacement to Mexico City increased, as did crime. It started as a group of six candle holders. In 1925, Colonel Leandro Castillo Venegas organized a group of six watchmen who began guarding the Lomas de Chapultepec area. By 1937, the corporation had grown to 1,400 members. By 1941 the president formalized them as the Auxiliary Police and then in 1984 joined them to the Preventive Police of the Federal District as part of the capital police.

They offer basic security services to individuals and corporations in the public and private sectors and assist the Secretariat of Citizen Security in operations that require extra manpower. They are seen primarily in riot gear in all government buildings, the airport, and in the old town. They also guard the metro lines A, B, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 12 the Metrobús, the Light Rail, and the Central de Abasto, and in some municipalities, they provide an extra reaction force.

How do they compare to the PBI?

They are considered less well equipped than the PBI yet slightly better paid and have a different benefit. They have more members and more city government contracts, yet the PBI is said to be closer to the regular police force and the private industry. They also offer the same services the PBI does, yet they do not advertise them and are less transparent and public about them.

The PA also seems like a decentralized force (they hire by sector rather than by corporation as a whole) and have older equipment. As for armament, they are often seen carrying old versions of the M4, M16, Mendoza HM3, berettas M9, and revolvers compared to the PBI newer Sig Sauer MPX, IWI X95, MP5s and Glocks (of note, some PBI officers also carry revolvers, pump action shotguns, Mendozas, and old berettas).

Cuerpos de Seguridad Auxiliares del Estado de México (CUSAEM) – 1946

15 - 30,000 members

While very Little is known about the Auxiliary Security Forces of the State of Mexico (CUSAEM), and it’s surrounded by mystery and scandal, it continues to be one of the biggest auxiliary guard corps in the nation that plays the role of auxiliary police in the State of Mexico. CUSAEM is divided into operational sectors and three corps: • Cuerpo de Vigilancia Auxiliar y Urbana del Estado de México (CUVAEM) • Cuerpo de Seguridad Auxiliar del Estado de México (CUSAME) • Cuerpo de Custodia Auxiliar Penitenciaria del Estado de México (CUCAPEM)

Although other sources claim the CUSAEM corps is divided by: • Cuerpo de Vigilancia Auxiliar y Urbana del Estado de México • Cuerpo de Guardias de Seguridad Industrial, Bancaria y Comercial del Valle de Cuatitlan Texcoco • Cuerpo de Guardias de Seguridad Industrial Bancaria y Comercial del Valle de Toluca

Throughout time (and even today) CUSAEM, and likely similar state organizations, have been using different names for their districts of operations, names like: • Cuerpos de Seguridad Auxiliar y Urbana del Estado de México • Cuerpo de Guardias de Seguridad Industrial, Bancaria y Comercial • Cuerpo de Vigilancia Auxiliar y Urbana del Estado de México • Cuerpo de Guardias de Seguridad Industrial Bancaria y Comercial del Valle de Toluca • Policía Auxiliar CES • Cuerpo de seguridad auxiliares estado de mexico • Batallón de Radio Patrullas del Estado de México (BARAPEM) o Abolish in 1981 due to corruption and scandal after their commander, Alfredo Ríos Galeana, was caught robbing banks

CUSAEM has been the subject of complaints since it is unknown where their main budget comes from or goes and while the state police force distances itself from the corps CUSAEM’s weapons come from them and the Ministry of Security. They are not also completely recognized as a public entity and it’s a mystery in how they are managed. The first time they gained formalized legal recognition was in 2006 and it was stated that they would be supervised and controlled the State Security Agency. Four years after that changed and since then been in limbo. Still, they act in support of the public function when requested. They currently offer, training, close protection services, armed and unarmed guards, custodians, CCTV monitoring and alarm systems.

Of note in Mexico a guard and a police officer are not the same thing as the guard can’t arrest someone, just detain. The organization is said to be semi-private, but it is still dependent of the state security forces and is treated as such. It’s said it has 15,000 – 30,000 (some even claim 40,000) guards at its service although this can’t be confirmed. It is also said to have originated in 1946/7 although it’s not clear. Its guards have protected major industrial sites, banks, businesses, railways, highways, and critical infrastructure in the State of Mexico, Mexico City, and even in other parts of the country. They are equipped with mostly old vehicles (with a few newer ones), a range of weapons that vary from revolvers, and Berettas to automatic shotguns, Mendozas and M16s. And even though their appearance is considered to be less professional compared to other similar organizations, they have a strong spirit du corps and are regarded as very effective during highways and street firefights. Probably since they mostly operate in the State of Mexico, of the nation’s most dangerous states.

Policia Auxiliar Puebla – 1958

3,000 members

The Auxiliary Police of the State of Puebla was created in response to the demand for night guard services. In 2003, the State Governor formalized its role as a decentralized organization with around 2,000 police guards. Currently, it’s made up of 3,000 police guards who still provide services to the private and public sectors. They provide standard armed and unarmed static and mobile police guards (on foot, bicycle, motorbike, or patrol car), cash-in-transit services, grenadiers, armed highway escort services, close protection operatives, and UAV services.

Unlike the PBI, most citizens in Puebla are unaware of its existence. They practically have the same uniforms used by the municipal and state forces and rarely use the media to their advantage, nevertheless, they have been aiming to become a more innovative force as stated in the first-ever Auxiliary Police Congress in 2023, hosted by them.

Policía Industrial Bancaria de Hidalgo (PIBH) – 1976

2 - 3,000 members

The Industrial and Banking Police of Hidalgo is relatively unknown outside of the state yet it has experienced an aggressive expansion in the last 10 years with a 40% increase in recruitment, new weapons (most recently IWI Galil ACEs and Tavors), body armor, vehicles, uniforms, and training. This is likely due to the industrial expansion of the state. It currently has around 2,000 – 3,000 officers and as with others of its kind offers general services to the public and private sectors, most notably the railways and bus systems.

The PIBH has also announced new incentives for new recruits like including them in an INFONAVIT scheme, likely to continue to grow the force as the state government becomes more reliant on them. For instance, the state government created a Hydro Police (composed of some PIBH officers) in order to patrol ducts in the state.

Servicio de protección federal (SPF) - 2008

30,000 members

The Federal Protection Service is in charge of providing protection, custody, surveillance and security services for people, property, and facilities of the federal (and sometimes foreign) agencies as well as to the bodies of the Legislative and Judicial powers and any other public institutions that request it. If deemed a national asset worth protecting, the SPF can offer its services to private institutions such as mines and railways (for a time they oversaw FERROMEX). As they are not a particularly famous force to hire in the private sector there is little about the process or what they consider a national asset. According to their website they also offer risk analysis, training, and consulting services. Some of their most noteworthy clients is the IMSS, the PGR (Mexican version of the FBI), and the Bienestar Bank (nationally owned bank).

to aid the public (as a private guard would) rather than police them. Also, they are more approachable since they are rarely in vehicles (like regular cops are) and just stand around like guards, which in turn makes them connect better with the community, local businesses, and so on.

Others worth mentioning

Policía Auxiliar y Protección Patrimonial para el Estado de Veracruz (IPAX) – 1963

Very Little is known publicly about the IPAX except that it used to be called the Sistema de Seguridad Industrial, Bancaria y Comercial (industrial, banking, and commercial security system). It offers the exact same services as the PBI and PA. It has around 7,500 members, 11 operational bases. Interestingly enough they have very modern firearms (for an auxiliary force in Mexico) in their arsenal, such as the Beretta Cx4 Storm, Benelli MR1, Berettas ARX160, modern AR-like rifles, G36 rifles, and also some older models like M16s, revolvers, and pump action shotguns.

Why does the government like hiring banking and auxiliary police forces better than regular police forces?

State governments prefer to reinforce security with these forces because it makes more political and financial sense. An auxiliary or banking police officer is considerably cheaper to employ and requires less training to be hired and deployed. And once the state government stops using them the corporation will simply rent it to a private company absorbing the cost and even creating a profit from it. In some states also these officers do not have the same benefits as government employees or even other cops and are therefore easier to incentivize to let go (as it is common in Mexico) or simply in extreme cases fire. Auxiliary and banking police officers are also easier to hire, since age requirements are more flexible (which attracts many veterans or former cops) and because its considered safer to be an auxiliary or banking cop than a regular cop. The stereotype shows that they are less in contact with narcos and gangs and more in contact with shoplifters, regular criminals, and citizens in trouble. This is a reason why in some places (with many exemptions) people like them better. They are trained in a more relaxed environment and are specifically instructed.