One key element for the total reparation of victims in a context of structural violence such as war is the characterization of the aRected human groups through reliable data. In addition, such a process of characterization qualifies, in an objective and technical way, the rights of the victims to know the truth regarding the causes, patterns and practices by which they resulted aRected. ftis process turns out to be crucial in the pretention for justice as means to fight impunity and guarantee non-repetition of the acts. From the perspective of the State, the characterization of the victims is the base upon which any public policy with pretention of being inclusive and integral should  be formulated. Bearing this in mind, the article presents the most relevant findings of  a systemic and interdisciplinary research, with a socio-legal emphasis, regarding the process of characterization of the victims of the National Police of Colombia. ftus, it reveals the necessity to raise awareness among institutions and society of the tragedies suRered by thousands of police officers during the last five decades in Colombia