El Salvador officers take lessons in innovation and leadership home from Dubai

Dubai: Two police officers from El Salvador are returning home with new perspectives on leadership, innovation and international cooperation after participating in the third edition of the Policing Innovation and Leadership (PIL) Diploma, organised by Dubai Police in collaboration with Rabdan Academy.

Inspector Martina Sandoval and Sub Inspector Santos Ernesto Aguilar Murillo of the National Civil Police of El Salvador joined the programme with different professional backgrounds but a shared goal of learning from international policing experiences.

Sandoval brought 17 years of policing experience, including extensive work with vulnerable members of society, while Aguilar Murillo serves as Head of the Anti-Narcotics Section of the Investigations Department at the Chalatenango Departmental Police Station.

Learning beyond borders

For Sandoval, the programme combined leadership training with the opportunity to learn alongside police officers from different cultures.

She said one of the most valuable aspects of the experience was the international environment.

"Despite being from different countries, there comes a point where you become a family," she said.

Aguilar Murillo said his objective was to learn about policing methods used by organisations around the world and identify approaches that could be adapted in El Salvador.

"What motivated me was the desire to learn about other police work methods from police organisations around the world, so that I could implement them in my country," he said.

Understanding innovation

Both officers said the programme changed their understanding of innovation in policing.

Sandoval highlighted the innovation and problem-solving modules, which demonstrated how new approaches to everyday challenges can improve police work.

Aguilar Murillo said the programme showed that innovation is not limited to technology.

"Many of us misunderstand it and believe that police innovation is simply the use of technology for police work," he said.

Instead, he said innovation can involve finding better ways of carrying out existing police duties and improving outcomes through practical changes.

Sharing experience

The programme also provided opportunities for participants to contribute lessons from their own careers.

Sandoval shared insights from her field experience during discussions and group sessions, while Aguilar Murillo contributed perspectives from his work combating illicit drug trafficking and coordinating with law enforcement agencies.

Both officers said building professional relationships with colleagues from different countries was one of the programme's lasting benefits.

Dubai's approach

During visits to Dubai Police departments, Sandoval said she was impressed by the professionalism and the integration of technology into policing operations.

She highlighted the Operations Centre and the coordination between police resources and government entities in responding to community needs.

For Aguilar Murillo, Dubai's digital transformation stood out.

He pointed to the move away from paper-based processes and physical files as an example of how digitalisation can improve efficiency while supporting environmental sustainability.

Taking lessons home

Sandoval said one of the key lessons she intends to apply is the importance of remaining open to change and new ways of working.

She also believes the professional network established through the programme could support future cooperation between police organisations in different parts of the world.

Aguilar Murillo likewise emphasised the importance of international partnerships and trust-building between law enforcement agencies.

"Having more spaces like PIL will help build trust and allow for not only lasting friendships but also seamless collaboration," he said.

Reflecting on the experience, Sandoval described the programme as "one of the most valuable experiences" of her policing career, while Aguilar Murillo summed it up simply: "It is an amazing experience!"