Ponce Municipal Police

Policía Municipal de Ponce
Ponce Municipal Police
Abbreviation PMP
Motto Proteccion, Seguridad
Protection, Security
Agency overview
Formed 1977
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction* Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, USA
Map of Policía Municipal de Ponce's jurisdiction.
Size 193.6 sq mi (501.44 km2)
Population 196,590
Legal jurisdiction Ponce, Puerto Rico
Governing body Autonomous Municipality of Ponce
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Downtown Historical District, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Police Officers over 500
Agency executive Norberto Rodriguez Alicea, Police Commissioner
Supervisions
Facilities
Precincts
Police Cars Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Chevrolet Impala
Footnotes
* Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.
Note: Edwin Torres Ortiz, Teniente Coronel[1]

The Ponce Municipal Police (Spanish: Policía Municipal de Ponce) is the main police force for the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico, with jurisdiction in the entire municipality, including all 31 barrios of Ponce. It was created under law #19 of May 12, 1977, known as Ley de la Policia Municipal (Municipal Police Law) creating the local police forces in each city of Puerto Rico, and since its foundation in September 1977, it has been growing in personnel and equipment. It is the second city police force in Puerto Rico to have an Amber Alert Task Force. It is also by far the largest Municipal Police force in Puerto Rico, surpassing that of San Juan and all other municipalities in Puerto Rico.

Contents

Location

The Ponce Municipal Police does not have a centralized police headquarters building. Its operations center is co-located with the Puerto Rico Police at the Ponce Regional Police Headquarters of the Puerto Rico Police, on Avenida Hostos in Barrio Canas Urbano. From this location, for example, the 334 city-wide security cameras are monitored.[2] The administrative offices of the Police Commissioner are located on the third floor of the Secretaria de Deportes on Avenida Las Americas (PR-163). There are plans to centralize the municipal police at the old Plaza del Mercado de Ponce, known as Edificio Bigas, once it is reconfigured.[3]

Precincts

The municipal police has precincts in La Guancha,[4] Mariani, Belgica, and Cantera. There is also a tourist police precinct on the first underground level of the municipal parking garage at the Dora Colón Clavell Urban Park. The Transit Unit works out of the Mariani precinct, while the Maritime Unit works out of the La Guancha precinct.[5]

The location of the units is as follows:[6]
Athletic League, Division of Internal Affairs, and the Office of the Municipal Police Commissioner - Third floor of the Secretaría de Recreación on Avenida Las Americas Transit and Community Units - Fullana
Digital Command Center - Former Headquarters of the Puerto Rico police on Avenida Hostos
Motorized and Rapid Response Units - Bélgica
Tourism and School Units - Parque Urbano Dora Colón Clavell
Bicycle Units - Cantera precinct
Prevention and Domestic Violence Units - Puerto Rico Police Headquarters at Urb. Los Caobos

Upon Puerto Rico Police for the Ponce region vacating its headquarters at the intersection of Avenida Hostos (PR-123) and Avenida Las Americas (PR-163) at the end of 2010, Ponce Mayor Mayita Meléndez announced plans in May 2011 to invest $2.4 million for the remodeling of such facilities to serve as the first consolidated headquarters of the Ponce Municipal Police.[7][8]

Authority

Until recently the Ponce Municipal Police force had limited powers to make arrests and carry other such police activities without coordinating with the Puerto Rico Police. This changed on July 29, 2010, when Puerto Rico governor Luis Fortuño Burset signed various orders that increased the powers of the municipal police force, including making certain types of arrests without consulting with the Puerto Rico Police.[9]

References

  1. ^ Al Cierre del 2010: Merman los Delitos en el Sur. Jason Rodriguez Grafal. Periodico La Perla del Sur. Week of January 1–7, 2011. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Accessed January 5, 2011.
  2. ^ Jason Rodriguez Grafal. Inactivas sobre 200 Camaras de la Policia de Ponce. Periodico La Perla. August 4–10, 2010. Page 14.
  3. ^ Con inyección de $15 millones: Intentan reactivar polo del Ponce Centro. By Jason Rodríguez Grafal. Periodico La Perla. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  4. ^ MENSAJE DE PRESUPUESTO, AÑO FISCAL 2011-2012. Hon. María “Mayita” Meléndez Altieri, Mayor. MUNICIPIO AUTÓNOMO DE PONCE. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  5. ^ Ornato y Policía Municipal de Ponce reciben equipos. El Sur a la Vista. 13 Abril 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  6. ^ MENSAJE DE PRESUPUESTO, AÑO FISCAL 2011-2012. Hon. María “Mayita” Meléndez Altieri, Mayor. MUNICIPIO AUTÓNOMO DE PONCE. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  7. ^ $96 millones para proyecto Ponce Avanza. 31 May 2011 Retrieved 31 May 2011. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 31 May 2011.
  8. ^ Municipio de Ponce con déficit menor . Michelle Estrada Torres. 31 May 2011. Primera Hora. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  9. ^ Resumen de la Semana: Del 26 de Julio al 1 de agosto de 2010. (Noticias > Resumen de la Semana.) Periodico La Perla, news weekly. Ponce, Puerto Rico.