Humberto Arriagada

Humberto Arriagada Valdivieso (24 March 1892 – 12 December 1942) was a Chilean police officer who served as General Director of Carabineros de Chile from 1932 to 1938. During his tenure, he oversaw several institutional initiatives concerning personnel welfare, including the establishment of the Carabineros Cooperative and the development of the Carabineros Hospital.

Biography

Early life and police career

Arriagada was born in Talca, Chile, on 24 March 1892. In 1908, he entered the Military Academy and, in 1911, transferred to the Carabineros Corps as a second sergeant and officer cadet. He graduated the following year with the rank of second lieutenant, beginning a career that included assignments to several police units.

Among his postings were the School of Carabineros, the Railway Carabineros Group and Regiment, where he served on several occasions, and the 7th Regiment, based in Lota.

In 1916, while holding the rank of lieutenant, Arriagada was one of ten participants in the founding meeting of the Carabineros Mutual Association (Mutualidad de Carabineros). He was also elected to its board of directors.

Following the institutional merger of 27 April 1927, which established Carabineros de Chile, he retained his rank of lieutenant colonel and was appointed commander of the 1st Santiago Regiment.

During his subsequent career, he served as Prefect of Tarapacá and Chief Prefect of Aconcagua. He also attained the rank of inspector colonel and held the position of Deputy Director of Carabineros.

General Director of Carabineros

On 27 June 1932, Arriagada was promoted to the rank of general and appointed General Director of Carabineros de Chile by Provisional President Carlos Dávila.

His appointment took place during a period of considerable political and social unrest in Chile. According to the Museo Histórico de Carabineros, Arriagada sought to maintain the institution's political neutrality, continuing a policy established by his predecessor.

In December 1932, following the beginning of Arturo Alessandri's second presidential administration, Arriagada was confirmed in his position. During the same period, a major institutional reorganization separated the Investigation, Identification and Passport services from Carabineros de Chile, placing them directly under the Ministry of the Interior. In June 1933, these services formed the Investigations Police of Chile.

Personnel welfare was a central concern of Arriagada's administration. In 1933, recreational and educational initiatives were organized for members of the institution, including summer camps and primary education programmes. The following year, the Carabineros Cooperative (Cooperativa de Carabineros) was established to provide economic assistance and improve purchasing conditions for institutional personnel.

Another initiative undertaken during his administration was the development of the Carabineros Hospital. The project was initially financed through annual contributions from institutional personnel beginning in 1932, followed by a public fundraising campaign in 1933. The foundation stone was laid in 1937, although the hospital was not inaugurated until 1945, three years after Arriagada's death.

In 1977, during the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of Carabineros de Chile, the hospital was named in his honour. The institution is located at the intersection of Antonio Varas and Simón Bolívar streets in Providencia, Santiago.

Arriagada remained General Director until 29 December 1938, when he was succeeded by Óscar Reeves Leiva.

He died in Santiago, Chile, on 12 December 1942, aged 50.

External links

• Humberto Arriagada Valdivieso – Museo Histórico de Carabineros de Chile