Oscar Reeves
Óscar Reeves Leiva (18 March 1894 – 3 September 1966) was a Chilean police officer who served as General Director of Carabineros de Chile from 1938 to 1942.
Biography
Early life and police career
Reeves was born in Concepción, Chile, on 18 March 1894. In 1912, he entered the Police School (Escuela Policial) as a third-class constable and officer cadet, graduating the following year as a sub-inspector. He subsequently served in several units of the Santiago Police.
In 1917, while off duty, he participated in the arrest of three criminals who had robbed a butcher's shop and killed its owner. The following year, he was assigned to the Central Brigade, a specialized unit responsible for extraordinary police operations.
In 1924, following the enactment of Decree Law No. 26, which established compulsory personal identification in Chile, Reeves was appointed head of the Central Identification Office. He was also promoted to inspector commissioner. Following the establishment of Carabineros de Chile on 27 April 1927, he joined the newly formed institution with the rank of major, retaining responsibility for identification services.
He subsequently served as Prefect of Valdivia and Deputy Prefect of Aconcagua, before assuming command of the General Prefecture. In 1935, he was promoted to inspector colonel and assigned to the Third Inspection Zone, headquartered in Temuco. He later served in the Valdivia and Antofagasta inspection zones, before being appointed Deputy Director of Carabineros in 1937.
General Director of Carabineros
On 29 December 1938, Reeves was appointed General Director of Carabineros de Chile by President Pedro Aguirre Cerda, succeeding Humberto Arriagada Valdivieso.
Shortly after his appointment, Carabineros participated in emergency relief operations following the 1939 Chillán earthquake, which struck central Chile on 24 January 1939.
During his administration, the Higher Institute of Carabineros (Instituto Superior de Carabineros), the predecessor of the present-day Academy of Police Sciences, was established on 5 December 1939. Reeves also organized the institution's Social Welfare Service, continuing initiatives begun under his predecessor.
Other institutional changes included the relocation of the General Directorate's headquarters from Victoria Subercaseux Street to Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins in Santiago. The officers' uniform was also modified, replacing the traditional closed-collar tunic with a white shirt and tie.
Reeves remained in office until 4 April 1942, when he was succeeded by Pedro Silva Calderón.
He died in Santiago, Chile, on 3 September 1966, aged 72.
External links
- Óscar Reeves Leiva – Museo Histórico de Carabineros de Chile