The office of U.S. Senate Majority Whip Alan Cranston (D-California) played a key role in brokering that final agreement, which included the U.S. Department of Justice taking the lead among international actors in establishing the new force.

[4][5][6] According to El Salvador's current constitution, the National Civil Police is the only force in charge of keeping order, security and public tranquility in the country, with different functions from the army.

As part of the peace process, the National Guard and the Treasury Police were supposed to be abolished immediately; it took some time, but eventually was accomplished.

[2] Under the administration of President Francisco Flores, the PNC attempted to crack down on gangs as part of a policy called Mano Dura or "Iron Fist".

[13] Additionally, the Director General oversees six main subdirectories: Public Security, Investigations, Specialized Operative Areas, Land transportation, Rural Police, and Administration and Finances.

[13]In order to receive certain promotions or work on specialized units, PNC officers must successfully pass courses and exams associated with the potential position.

[13] In order to enter the PNC as an officer, citizens are required to successfully complete training at the National Academy of Public Security (ANSP).

[13] In order to receive certain promotions or work on specialized units, PNC officers must successfully pass courses and exams associated with the potential position.

[3] In 2009 the election of President Mauricio Funes was the beginning of not only a major political transition but also a significant shift in strategies for combating gang activities.

Funes’ election marked the first time that the leftist political party known as the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) had won the presidency since it was founded at the end of the Civil War in 1992 by marxist guerrillas.

[18] However, the government later announced it would accommodate and support the truce after as many as 30 high profile gang members were moved out of maximum security prisons and granted increased visitation rights.

Ceren's administration quickly demonstrated their intention to depart with Funes’ strategies by rejecting the truce and prosecuting officials who were involved in the process.

[19] The political change from Funes to Ceren led to a shift back to more aggressive methods of combating gang violence by implementing policies reminiscent of the Mano Dura years.

[22] While the harassment and mass incarceration of certain citizens based on limited evidence and suspected affiliation with a gang violates due process and other aspects of human rights, it is technically legal under the 2016 law reforms.

Over the course of six months the Special Reaction Forces (FES) killed 43 gang members, causing people to question the legality of the PNC Unit’s actions.

In one case, a Judge established that at least one of eight people killed during a shootout in San Blas was the victim of an illegal execution at the hands of the police.