In an effort to better understand the Costa Rican police system, the article draws comparisons between United States law enforcement agencies, United States military services and the Costa Rican police system. The article also describes the interaction during an advanced training session which included discussion of United States and Costa Rican constitutional issues. Costa Rica has no standing army, but does have a rural militia and a city militia. They perform services similar to United States municipal, county and state police over misdemeanor offenses. The civil guard has infiltrated juvenile gangs and drug organizations. However, the majority of clandestine operations are conducted by the Judicial Police, a professional group of career officers, under the jurisdiction of the Costa Rican Supreme Court, who have little confidence or trust in the rural and civil guard. Table of cases, table of interviews