Policía Municipal de Ponce

Policía Municipal de Ponce
Ponce Municipal Police
Abbreviation PMP
Motto Proteccion, Seguridad
Protection, Security
Agency overview
Formed 1977
Employees 421 (as of February 2012)[1]
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 400
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[2]

The Policía Municipal de Ponce (English: Ponce Municipal Police) 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 12 May 1977, known as Ley de la Guardia Municipal[3] (Municipal Guard Law) creating the municipal police forces in each municipality of Puerto Rico, and amended via Law #45 of 22 May 1996, known as Ley de la Policia Municipal[4] (Municipal Police Law).

The history of the Ponce Municipal Police dates back to at least 1902 when there was already a municipal police force in the city.[5] At the time (1902), it was the only police force serving the municipality of Ponce.[6]

Since its re-establishment in September 1977, the Ponce Municipal Police has been growing in personnel and equipment. It is the second city police force in Puerto Rico to have an Amber Alert Task Force.

Location

The Ponce Municipal Police headquarters are located on Avenida Las Americas (PR-163) and Carretera Pampanos (PR-2R) in barrio Canas at the Secretaria de Deportes building. A new building, which used to be occupied by the Ponce regional headquarters of the Puerto Rico Police on Avenida Hostos in Barrio Canas Urbano, is currently under refurbishment to become the new headquarters of the Ponce Municipal Police. This second location currently still houses the control center of the Ponce Municipal Police which monitors the city's 334 security cameras.[7] As of April 2012, the administrative offices of the Police Commissioner are located on the third floor of the Secretaria de Deportes on Avenida Las Americas, in barrio Canas. At one point there were also plans to headquarter the Ponce Municipal Police at the old Plaza del Mercado de Ponce, known as Edificio Bigas, once it was reconfigured,[8] but the site may be used to headquarter only a precinct.[9]

Precincts

The municipal police has precincts in La Guancha,[10] Mariani (Fullana), 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.[11]

The location of the units is as follows:[12]

There is also a canine unit.[13]

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.[14][15]

Authority

Until recently the Ponce Municipal Police 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.[16] The issuance of traffic violation summonses, which had traditionally been handled by the Transit Division of the Puerto Rico Police, is also an activity that according to law may be performed by the Municipal Police as well.[17]

Amendments made to the Puerto Rico Municipal Police Code allows them to operate as if they were agents of the Puerto Rico Police.[18]

Police Commissioners

Ponce Municipal Police Commissioner Norberto Rodriguez Alicea (2010-2014)

Following are the commissioners of the Ponce Municipal Police since the force was created in 1977.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Report. Office of the Police Commissioner. Ponce Municipal Police. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 15 February 2012
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ Ley Núm. 45. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Ley Núm. 45. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  5. ↑ Second Annual Report of the Governor or Porto Rico. (1901-1902) William H. Hunt. July 1, 1902. Page 60. Washington, D.C. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  6. ↑ Second Annual Report of the Governor or Porto Rico. (1902-1903) William H. Hunt. August 1, 1903. Page 305. Washington, D.C. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  7. ↑ Inactivas sobre 200 Camaras de la Policia de Ponce. Jason Rodriguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 4 August 2010. Page 14. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ Pospuesta la Comandancia Municipal. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce. Puerto Rico. Year 30. Issue 1510. Page 4. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  10. ↑ MENSAJE DE PRESUPUESTO, AÑO FISCAL 2011-2012. Hon. María “Mayita” Meléndez Altieri, Mayor. MUNICIPIO AUTÓNOMO DE PONCE. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  11. ↑ Ornato y Policía Municipal de Ponce reciben equipos. El Sur a la Vista. 13 Abril 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  12. ↑ MENSAJE DE PRESUPUESTO, AÑO FISCAL 2011-2012. Hon. María “Mayita” Meléndez Altieri, Mayor. MUNICIPIO AUTÓNOMO DE PONCE. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Fallece Sargento Brando K-9 de la Policía Municipal de Ponce. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  14. ↑ $96 millones para proyecto Ponce Avanza. 31 May 2011 Retrieved 31 May 2011. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 31 May 2011.
  15. ↑ Municipio de Ponce con déficit menor . Michelle Estrada Torres. 31 May 2011. Primera Hora. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ Ajena la Policía Estatal a las foto multas. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 16 October 2013. Year 31. Issue 1559. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  18. ↑ Pactan alianza Policía Estatal y Municipal. Reinaldo Millán. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 32. Issue 1629. Page 9. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  19. ↑ Police Commissioners Listing. Ponce Municipal Police Headquarters. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 2012.
  20. ↑ Ponce: Retoma su puesto el Comisionado. Reinaldo Millán. La Perla del Sur. 19 February 2014. (Rodríguez retired on 16 September 2013, but was rehired on 10 February 2014.)
  21. ↑ Pactan alianza Policía Estatal y Municipal. Reinaldo Millán. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 32. Issue 1629. Page 9. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.

See also

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