Puerto Rico Police
| Puerto Rico Police Department 'Policia de Puerto Rico' | |
|---|---|
| File:PR - Police.png | |
| Abbreviation | PPR |
| Motto | Proteccion, Integridad Protection and Integrity |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | February 7, 1899 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Puerto Rico, USA |
| Size | 5,324 square miles |
| Population | 3,994,259 (2007 estimate) |
| Legal jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Puerto Rico |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Cuartel General, West Hato Rey San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Police Officers | 18,262 |
| Agency executive |
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| Supervisions | List
|
| Regions | List
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| Facilities | |
| Districts (One station in town) and Precints (more than 1 station in town)s | 71 Districts 34 Precints 13 Highway Patrol Areas |
| Police Cars | Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor Ford Explorer Ford Mustang Chevrolet Trailblazer Chevrolet Impala Dodge Charger |
| Helicopters and Airplanes | Bell 407 Bell 412 McDonnell Douglas MD-520N Bell OH-58C Kiowa Cessna 404 Titan Cessna 310R Beechcraft King Air B200T |
| Website | |
| http://www.policia.gobierno.pr/ | |
The Puerto Rico Police Department (Policía de Puerto Rico), better known in Puerto Rico as La Uniformada ("The Uniformed" in english), is the police force of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, with country-wide jurisdiction. The Uniformada is also one of two investigative arms of many of Puerto Rico's municipal police forces, the other one being the Puerto Rico Bureau of Special Investigations, a branch of the Department of Justice of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The headquarters of La Uniformada are located at the Cuartel General (General Station House), 101 Franklin D. Roosevelt Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.
Law Enforcement under United States rule (since 1898)
As of 2007, the PRPD has over 18,000 officers:[1]
It traces back to 1837, when Spanish governor Francisco Javier de Moreda y Prieto created La Guardia Civil de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Civil Guard) to protect the lives and property of Puerto Ricans who at the time were Spanish subjects, and provide police services to the entire island, even though many municipalities maintain their own police force. The United States took possession of Puerto Rico in July 1898 as a result of the Spanish American War and has controlled the island as a US territory since then. The Insular Police of Porto Rico was created on February 7th 1899, by Col. Frank Thacher, (US Marine officer during the Spanish American War), with an authorized strength of 313 sworn officers.
On March 21, 1937, more than 30 officers placed them selves in a intersection in downtown Ponce to prevent that Puerto Rican Nationalist started a march to protest the insular government that the United States was governing by the time. As the started to march and sing La Borinqueña (Puerto Rico's state song), from a beach house in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, General Blanton Winship (Governor appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt) ordered Chief of Police Guillermo Soldevilla to open fire to the protesters. In the massacre that lasted 15 minutes, 19 people die, including a seven year-old girl.
Because of these acts, Pedro Albizu Campos and other Puerto Ricans revolted against the government. On October 30, 1950, many police stations and U.S. Post Offices were burned to the ground by nationalist in many cities of Puerto Rico, but concentrated in the mountain town of Jayuya, in the center of Puerto Rico. In there, 5 police officers were killed when a group of nationalist entered the local police station and shot those five officers. Also, the governors mansion (La Fortaleza) was attacked, but police and Puerto Rico National Guard soldiers repelled the shots, killing four suspects.
In 1980 the Puerto Rico State Police was recognized as one of the most extensively trained and disciplined state police agencies in the United States, at the time in accordance to Law 26 of 1974 such was described as "A Quasi Military" organization of public safety later to be changed with a new law in the '90s as a "Civil Organization" of public safety as those on the US Mainland.
During late 80's and early 90's, the crime rate in Puerto Rico was in his highest peak, that was almost the same as Los Angeles and 80's in terms of gangs. The total of murders in Puerto Rico in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992 combined was 2,748 people murdered either related by drugs, gangs or innocent people. Also, Carjacking and robbery were at alarming rates. Then, in 1993, governor Pedro Rosello created a new plan to fight back crime called Mano Dura Contra el Crimen or Strong Hand Against Crime which Puerto Rico Police officers were assisted by the Puerto Rico National Guard in everything that involves police work, except police investigations. They were better known because of the raids that they make in housing complex or "Caserios" which such rapidly force and precision. Also, the use of military vehicles and tactics. This program was put to the test from 1993 to 1996 with great results, but unfortunately, 48 police officers died in the line of duty. It was later activated again in 2004 by governor Sila M. Calderon but not with the same intensity as in the early 1990s.
In 2009, Police Superintendant Jose Figueroa Sancha re-organized the Puerto Rico police in terms of commanding officers and regional organization. Before 2009, all 13 police zones (San Juan, Carolina, Bayamon, Arecibo, Ponce, Mayagüez, Aguadilla, Fajardo, Aibonito, Guayama, Humacao, Caguas and Utuado) had one commanding officer who was in charged of Field Operations and Investigations. Now every police zone have two commanding officers: One in charged of the field operations, and the other in charge of investigations. Also, the name changed from Police Zones to Police Regions.
Also, the new policy of the agency is to get involved in the community. That the officer must get out of that patrol car in some moments and patrol on foot those neighborhoods so they can talk to those citizens and socialized, as well identify the problems that exist in the neighborhood.
Organization
The Puerto Rico Police Department is well organized and ready for any situation. Chain of command in the Puerto Rico Police is:
Police Superintendent- He is the top commanding officer. He is one of five "head of government agencies" nominated by the governor of Puerto Rico. The police superintendent must be elected on the top 5 because he's the head of the law enforcement on the island.
Associate Superintendent- He is the second in command. He follows every order from the superintendent, including if the superintendent cannot do some specific things that the second in command can do. Also, in case of sickness, disability or death, the Associate Superintendent assumes the position of Superintendent.
Auxiliary Superintendent of Field Operations- He is in charge of every activity in the Puerto Rico Police Department that is related with the protection of life and property, maintain law and order, the protection of civil rights and crime prevention. He plans, coordinates, leads and controls all the operational actions on the prevention service fase with the integration of citizens in a common effort and meet the training-educational aspect of children and to prevent youth crime, in line with guidelines issued by the Superintendent. Also, he applies the public policy on rescuing the affected communities by groups linked to drug trafficking that took control of the perimeters of the public and private housing projects.
Rank Structure
| Title | Insignia | Officers in Each Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Colonel |  |
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| Lieutenant Colonel |  |
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| Commander |  |
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| Inspector |  |
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| Captain |  |
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| First Lieutenant |  |
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| Second Lieutenant |  |
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| Sergeant |  |
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| Corporal |  |
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| Officer assigned as a Detective |  |
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| Police Officer |  |
Police Divisions and Bureaus
Highway Patrol
The Highway Patrol Bureau is divided on 4 divisions: Transit Division, Radar and Alcohol Detection Unit, Expressway Patrol Unit and Metro Rail Unit. The first three division have the same main objective: Prevent traffic accidents, Investigate traffic accidents, Arrest drunk drivers, and arrest street racers and confiscate their vehicles.
The last division, the Metro Rail Unit, is specifically for the San Juan Metropolitan Area Rail System or "Tren Urbano" in Spanish. This unit prevents any unusual activity on the Metro Rail stations.
D.O.E. (Special Operations Division)
The Special Operations Division is a Elite unit that fights crime more dangerously. In other words, this officers goes to places that no other ordinary Puerto Rico police officer can go. This officers impact the places were the drug dealers sell the narcotics called Drug Points. This officers work in a hustle and dangerous environment were they are frequently attack by the shooter in the drug point. Further, it is a sought of "Shock" and "Off Operation." This is the most high risk unit amongst Puerto Rico Police Departments.
D.O.T. (Tactical Operations Division)
The Tactical Operations Division or better known by the Puerto Rican media and citizens as "La Fuerza de Choque" is one of the most well known units in the Puerto Rico Police Department because of their way to intervene with suspects and specially with protesters. Because their way to intervene with protesters are almost in a physical way, they are criticize by citizens. They are physically identified by using berets instead of common police hats. Also, they are the Riot Unit, which means that they proceed or stand-by in a moments notice to strikes and protest that the police knows that it could turned into a riot. This earned them the name of "Fuerza de Choque" or Shock Force.
F.U.R.A.(United Forces of Fast Action)
The United Forces of Fast Action (Fuerzas Unidas de Rapida Accion) or F.U.R.A. is a unit/bureau that coordinates and leads all strategies for introduce to fight the trafficking of drugs, narcotics, illegal weapons and illegal aliens on a effective way. In this unit, there's a group of specialize division such as: Air Unit, Divers, Rescue, S.W.A.T., Canine Unit and Horseback Unit. This Unit/Bureau also coordinates with U.S. federal agencies to fight crime.
Robbery & Bank Fraud Division
Organize in 1982, this division its in charge to investigate all robbery and fraud complaints, as well as robbery and fraud attempts to companies dedicated to the storage or custody of money or values. Also, they are in charge of coordinating the Amber Alert system.
Organize Crime Bureau
The Organize Crime Bureau outline strategic research in the field of organized crime, all related to the flow of illegal drugs, weapons, stolen vehicles, among others taking place in Puerto Rico.
Special Arrest & Extraditions Division
This division its in charge of :
- Persue and apprehend all suspect that are in the "Most Wanted List" determined by the Auxiliary Superintendent of Strategic Operations.
- Investigate cases that are of special interest and that are instructed by the Auxiliary Superintendent in Criminal Investigations.
- Comply with all arrest warrants expelled to all suspects that have committed crimes in cities outside the San Juan Metropolitan Area and that have moved outside Puerto Rico.
Police Regions
The Puerto Rico Police Department are regionally divided in 13 police regions to provide better service to the public. Each region haves 2 commanding officers; one for investigation, and the other for field operations. This police regions are:
San Juan
It's the most populated area in Puerto Rico for being the capital, which it's also one of the areas in Puerto Rico with a high crime incidence. With regional offices located at the Puerta de Tierra district in the San Juan Islet, is compose only by the city of San Juan. The majority of the sworn officers of the Puerto Rico Police Department are in the San Juan Regions precincts and specialize divisions. It's composed of 11 precincts which provide protection to the residents and visitors of San Juan. Also, there is a touristic unit located on the San Juan district of Ocean Park; a Highway Patrol Station in Hato Rey and the San Juan regional office of FURA. Its also the home area of the Puerto Rico Police Department Headquarters located in West Hato Rey district which house the rest of the specialize units.
Controversies
On Friday, August 10, 2007, Puerto Rico police officer Javier Pagán Cruz, killed a community leader, Miguel A. Cáceres Cruz, after he was brutally shot, an event captured by amateur video.
The victim was doing traffic control while a quinceañera (analogous to a "Sweet Sixteen" in the U.S.) motorcade was passing by. The police officer tried to make an arrest of the man for many reasons including disrespect to a female officer, however as the man resisted, the officer began to beat the victim at which time his gun was discharged.[1] In apparent rage, the officer fired at the man at near point blank range. The victim was shot four times, with a fifth and last shot being fired in the back of the head after a short pause, in what the local media described as "execution style". The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim's family is currently undertaking a campaign against police brutality which has caused much controversy in the Puerto Rico Police Department and other government agencies. [2]
Four agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Puerto Rico Police Dept, Puerto Rico Justice Department, and the Civil Rights Commission, are investigating this and many other incidents in which members of the police force have been engaging in criminal acts that have been uncovered at large greatly in part to efforts of the local media.
Calle 13 has contributed with a song named "Tributo A La Policia" to the police of the Puerto Rico Police Department due to the killings of "Christopher", Calle 13's "Brother", "Naldo Dario", "Santiago Marín Pesquera", "Carlos Enrique", "Miguel A. Cáceres Cruz" and "Antonia Martínez" but eventually it is now a war between Calle 13 and the Puerto Rican police so they answered Calle 13 back with a song named "Tributo A Calle 13."[citation needed]
See also
References
External links
- Homepage (Spanish)