The recent assassination of an esteemed ESI Instructor, Eduardo Rodriguez Masso in Tamaulipas, Mexico, shocked his family, friends and colleagues. He was gunned down in his office by a hit team dressed as police officers in December 2007. At this date, no suspects are apprehended nor is a precise motivation for the contract killing known.

Commander Masso was the chief negotiator of a special Federal unit that had the responsibility of negotiating the release or the rescue of kidnap victims. In ten years, Masso and his specialist unit negotiated the release of hundreds of kidnap victims and the capture of more than 700 gang members that specialized in kidnapping. Mexico suffers from a growing kidnap industry that has cast a dark shadow over the country and confidence in law enforcement agencies. Commander Masso demonstrated to the Mexican public that acceptance of criminal gangs is not inevitable nor are they untouchable.

I knew Eduardo for fifteen years, and in the Fall of 2007, he taught an Anti-Kidnapping course for ESI in Oaxaca, Mexico. He was a charismatic and effective teacher who spoke with profound passion and experience. Masso was also a close friend of Rodrigo Muños, Director of ESI Mexico and member of ESI's Board of Directors. We will miss our friend.

Bob Duggan