César Mendoza
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Competitor for  Chile |
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| Equestrian | ||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Silver | 1952 Helsinki | Team Jumping |
| Pan American Games | ||
| Gold | Buenos Aires 1951 | Team Jumping |
| Gold | Chicago 1959 | Team Dressage |
| Bronze | Chicago 1959 | Individual Dressage |
General César Leonidas Mendoza Durán (September 11, 1918 – September 13, 1996) was a member of the Government Junta that ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990, representing the police force (Carabineros de Chile).
Mendoza was born in Santiago, the son of Atilio Mendoza Valdebenito, a science teacher and first mayor of La Cisterna, and Amalia Durán, a pianist. He was the youngest of 11 children. In 1938 he complied with his compulsory military service, and in 1940 he joined the Carabineros' School, graduating as a second-lieutenant in 1941. During his police career, he worked in different cities starting in 1942 as a Lieutenant in Molina, Talca and the Carabineros' School. He was promoted to Captain in 1953, Mayor in 1959, Lieutenant Colonel in 1965, Colonel in 1968, General in 1970, and Inspector General in 1972.
A noted horseman, he won a silver medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics Games in Helsinki, as a part of the show jumping team.[1]
In 1973, after being contacted by General Gustavo Leigh just a day before (September 10), he joined the plan to depose President Salvador Allende, reserving for himself the position of General Director of Carabineros (he was actually the 4th in line of command), deposing José María Sepúlveda. When he became a junta member, he made history by being the first member of Carabineros in a Chilean government.
He was awarded medals by the police of Peru and Ecuador, in addition to the Royal Victorian Order Medal by Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1985, communists José Manuel Parada, Manuel Guerrero and Santiago Nattino were found beheaded. The blame was quickly put on the Carabineros, and the Caso Degollados ("case of the slit throats") caused Mendoza's resignation. He officially resigned on August 2, 1985 and was replaced by General Rodolfo Stange.
In 1987, he was one of the founders of the Las Condes University. Together with his wife Alicia Godoy, whom he married in 1948 and with whom he has two children, Mendoza founded a charity organization to help children. After a long illness and 93 days in the Carabineros Hospital, Mendoza died, two days after his birthday in 1996.
[edit] References
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by None |
Member of Government Junta 1973-1985 |
Succeeded by Rodolfo Stange |
| Police appointments | ||
| Preceded by José María Sepúlveda |
General Director of Carabineros 1973-1985 |
Succeeded by Rodolfo Stange |
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