Osvaldo Alpízar, the director general of the Fuerza Pública, has agreed to a suspension without pay while allegations of harassment are studied.

In his place, the security minister, Fernando Berrocal has appointed  Oldemar Madrigal Medal, the head of the  Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea and the airport police.

The minister said that Alpízar sought the suspension without pay and characterized it as a temporary move. There is no time limit on the suspension.

Madrigal Medal entered the Fuerza Pública in 1967 and has extensive experience as a pilot and as an aircraft captain.  He holds the top police rank of comisionado.

A former Fuerza Pública official living in Alajuela reported receiving threatening telephone calls since May. The Judicial Investigating Organization has reported that the calls appear to have come from three telephones, two government-owned phones used by Alpízar and one owned by a member of the Alpízar family.

The Alajuela man taped the calls, although the male voice was disguised by distortion.

Alpízar was at the press conference Wednesday when his suspension was announced. He denies he made the calls.