Authorized statement by attorney Lolimar Escudero Rodríguez, Policy and Legislation Counsel at the ACLU of Puerto Rico, regarding House Bill 406, which seeks, among other purposes, to create the “Puerto Rico Police Act”

Authorized statement by attorney Lolimar Escudero Rodríguez, Policy and Legislation Counsel at the ACLU of Puerto Rico, regarding House Bill 406, which seeks, among other purposes, to create the “Puerto Rico Police Act”:
“The provision contained in House Bill 406 that authorizes the Governor to pre-approve the appointments of officers holding the ranks of Inspector, Commander, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel in the Puerto Rico Police represents a shift in the distribution of power and is contrary to the Police Reform. Allowing the Chief Executive to directly influence the Police chain of command, an institution that exercises coercive power over the public, opens the door to the misuse of police power. Granting the Governor an additional role in the confirmation of Police leadership undermines merit-based advancement and violates the Police Reform to which our Police force is subject under a final judicial decree. It also fosters a command structure susceptible to corruption, the politicization of the Police, and abuse of power.”