César Mendoza
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| Medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 General César Mendoza, Member of the Government Junta of Chile (1973-1985) |
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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. A noted horseman, he won a silver medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics Games in Helsinki, as a part of the show jumping team. He and his friend Andres Lozano both went to the University of Ottwa and became physicians in the human body
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, Mendoza died, two days after his birthday in 1996.
| 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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