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 in 1867 and reorganized in 1977.
History The history of the Ponce Municipal Police dates back to at least 1867, having not only an armed police force but also a complete set of bylaws specifying its organization and ranks, equipment (including uniform and firearms), service standards and code of conduct, procedures and reporting, training, pay and benefits, and duty and accountability. It is clear from the 1867 municipal police reorganization that, even prior to 1867, there was already a police force in place as the reorganization also makes reference to absorbing "the existing corps in place on the date of this reorganization". It had its headquarters on the first floor of Casa Ayuntamiento.Socorro Guirón. Ponce, el teatro La Perla y La Campana de la Almudaina. Historia de Ponce desde sus comienzos hasta la segunda decada del siglo XX. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Gobierno Municipal de Ponce. 1992. pages 133-148, 371.
In 1895 Ponce mayor Juan José Potous issued an "Informe de Necesidades" (Needs Report) where he listed the following regarding his objectives in reference to the "Cuerpo de Policia Municipal" (Municipal Police Corps):Socorro Girón. Ponce, el teatro La Perla y La Campana de la Almudaina. Gobierno Municipal de Ponce. 1992. Page 315.
Improve the Municipal Police Corps to where it can provide complete and efficient security in the City and its rural barrios at all hours Place a sergeant in Barrio Playa on a permanent basis Establish the position of barrio police deputy, providing a stipend for expenses such that such service will not be a burden Set up a budget for confidential and ancillary police expenses.
Observations about the Ponce municipal police reveal that, in 1901, the Puerto Rico Federal Party, of which Luis Muñoz Rivera was its leader, considered the Ponce municipal police chief, Rodulfo Figueroa, "a highly controversial figure" for his association with "dangerous" elements of the lower class.Ileana M. Rodriguez-Silva. Silencing Race: Disentangling Blackness, Colonialism, and National Identities in Puerto Rico. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 2012. p. 176. Nevertheless, the association was later regarded as a way of developing strong ties with both upper and lower classes of society.
The report from the Military Governor of Puerto Rico in 1902 also makes reference to the municipal police force in the city of Ponce.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.There was also in Ponce a presence of the Policia Insular, located at the jail for the Second District in Ponce. The Insular Police Second District was composed of posts at Precinct #1, composed of Juana Diaz, Villalba, Santa Isabel, Corral Viejo; District #2, composed of Aibonito, Coamo, Barranquitas, Barros (now Orocovis); and District #3, composed of Peñuelas, Adjuntas, Almacigo Abajo (now part of Yauco), and Guayanilla. Because the law passed on 31 January 1901 creating an insular police did not apply to towns with a population over 6,000 inhabitants, the enforcement work of the insular police in Ponce was limited to work at the Jail for the Second District located in Ponce, not to the municipality of Ponce proper. (See https://books.google.com/books?id=73hsAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA159. First Annual Register of Porto Rico, July, 1901. William H. Hunt, Secretary of Porto Rico. Puerto Rico Secretary's Office. July 1901. page 159. Accessed 20 February 2018.) At the time (1902), it was the only police force serving the municipality of Ponce.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. The Municipal Police was established by order of the Municipal Assembly, via Municipal Orders Number 104 and 136, and made effective as of 9 May 1903.Reglamento para el Cuerpo de la Policía Municipal de Ponce tal como resulta de las ordenanzas números 104 y 136 del Concejo Municipal de dicha ciudad, aprobado por el Alcalde en 9 de mayo de 1903. Imprenta Baldorioty de Castro. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1903.
The Municipal Police was reorganized in 1977, when Law #19 of 12 May 1977, known as Ley de la Guardia MunicipalLey Núm. 45. Retrieved 10 January 2012. (Municipal Guard Law) significantly increased its powers and duties.Ley Núm. 45. Retrieved 10 January 2012. 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 Américas and Carretera Pámpanos in barrio Canas at the Secretaría de Recreación y 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.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. 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 Américas, in barrio Canas. At one point there were also plans to headquarter the Ponce Municipal Police at the former Plaza del Mercado de Ponce, known as Edificio Bigas, once it was reconfigured,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. but the site may be used to headquarter only a precinct.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.
Precincts By 1992, Policía Municipal had spread to six precincts, namely, Playa (Barrio Playa), Bélgica (Barrio Cuarto), Barrio Coto Laurel, Glenview (Barrio Machuelo Arriba), Mariani (Barrio Canas Urbano), and Molina at Calle Vives (Barrio Segundo).Carmelo Rosario Natal. Ponce En Su Historia Moderna: 1945-2002. Published by Secretaría de Cultura y Turismo of the Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 2003. p. 332.In the summer of 2019, the Ponce Municipal Legislature approved a resolution for the lease or sale of the former Ponce Municipal Police headquarters at Calle Molina and Calle Vives streets.(See A la Venta Tricoche. Es Noticia. 21 June to 4 July 2019. Year 4. Issue 99. p. 18.)
Today (2018), Municipal Police precincts can also be found at La Guancha,Mensaje del Presupuesto, Año Fiscal 2011-2012. Hon. María "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri, Mayor. Municipio Autonomo de Ponce. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011. Mariani (Fullana), Bélgica, 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. El Sur a la Vista. 13 Abril 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
The location of the units is as follows:Mensaje del Presupuesto, Año Fiscal 2011-2012. Hon. María "Mayita" Meléndez Altieri, Mayor. Municipio Autonomo de Ponce. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
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 - Mariani (also known as the Fullana precinct) 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 Unit - Cantera precinct Maritime Unit - La Guancha Prevention and Domestic Violence Units - Puerto Rico Police Headquarters at Urb. Los Caobos There is also a canine unit. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
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. Retrieved 31 May 2011. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 31 May 2011.Municipio de Ponce con déficit menor . Michelle Estrada Torres. 31 May 2011. Primera Hora. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
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 29 July 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.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. 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.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.
Amendments made to the Puerto Rico Municipal Police Code allows them to operate as if they were agents of the Puerto Rico Police.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.
Commissioners
Following are the commissioners of the Ponce Municipal Police since the force was created in 1977.Police Commissioners Listing. Ponce Municipal Police Headquarters. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 2012.
1977-1985: Coronel Pedro Rodríguez Seguín 1985-1987: Roberto Duque Santos 1987-1989: Norberto Rodríguez Alicea 1989-1995: Carlos Rodríguez 1995-1996: Eduardo Díaz Caraballo 1996-2004: Gilberto Colón Rodríguez 2004-2008: Alfredo Lugo Vera 2009-2010: Francisco Quiñones Rivera 2010-2014: Inspector Norberto Rodríguez AliceaPonce: 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.) Archived. 2014-2015: Lieutenant Elvin Pacheco Vélez (interim)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. Archived. 2015-2018: Inspector Angel Alvarez BonetaPolicía Municipal de Ponce inicia pesquisa contra hermano de adolescente que recibió disparo por su prima. CyberNews. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 3 December 2016. Accessed 11 February 2018. Archived. 2018-2020(?): Juan Gerardo Molina PerezDarisabel Texidor Guadalupe. "Con Nuevo Comisionado la Policia Municipal de Ponce." Periodico El Señorial. Government of the Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Lourdes N. Martinez Perez, Director. December 2018. Page 12.