House Bill 406 Seeks to Create the "Puerto Rico Police Act"

Authorized Statements from Lolimar Escudero Rodríguez, Esq., Policy and Legislative Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, regarding House Bill 406, which seeks to create the "Puerto Rico Police Act," among other purposes:

"The provision contained in House Bill 406 that authorizes the Governor to pre-confirm the appointments of officers with the rank of Inspector, Commander, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel in the Puerto Rico Police represents an alteration 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 with coercive power over the citizenry, opens the door to the misuse of police power. Delegating an additional role in the confirmation of Police commands to the Governor erodes meritocracy and violates the Police Reform to which our Police are subject by final judicial decree. Furthermore, it promotes a mandate susceptible to acts of corruption, the politicization of the Police, and the abuse of power."