Police Shortage Fuels Crime Surge in Quintana Roo

Chetumal, MX — Following his recognition of a deficit in the number of police officers within both the State Citizen Security Secretariat and the eleven municipal governments, the head of the agency, Julio César Gómez Torres, confirmed an increase in telephone extortion and small-scale drug dealing crimes in Quintana Roo, despite strategies implemented over the last twelve months.

During his appearance before members of the Security Commission of the XVIII Legislature, he explained that while UN indicators establish a baseline of 2.8 police officers per thousand inhabitants, Quintana Roo made adjustments to consider the optimal number at 10.8 officers in order to have an effective police deployment.

He detailed that the ideal number would be 4,700 state police officers and 470 in the municipalities; however, there are currently only around 200 in places like Cozumel, meaning they must grow in number to cover the quadrant strategy implemented in this administration.

In Quintana Roo, he said, they started from a police quadrant model in the municipalities, so that each patrol could cover from one end to the other in about five minutes, and it was determined that three officers per unit would be ideal per shift.

"But the State Police covers proximity functions due to insufficient personnel in the municipalities," he reiterated.

He added that the number of state police officers is steadily decreasing, as at the start of this five-year term they received only 1,500 of the nearly 2,000 that existed during the administration of Carlos Joaquín.

"We need to work with the municipal presidents to determine the necessary number of police officers required annually, and with the Legislative Branch to put a lock in place to prevent the shrinkage of the police force," he emphasized.

The secretary acknowledged that neighborhoods in Cancún, including Villas Otoch Paraíso, are considered overcrowded areas and of high criminal risk.

Although he insisted that there is a downward trend in high-impact crimes, he acknowledged that physical and telephone extortion, as well as small-scale drug dealing, are on the rise, which represents an increase in the number of investigation case files.

He said that in just ten days, the same number of case files were opened following the arrest of seven people related to extortion and small-scale drug dealing.

In the case of extortion, he indicated that fear still exists among victims to file a complaint.

"But with the implementation of the Centurion Group, this trend has shown improvement, as now many business owners decide to file their complaint."

He acknowledged that physical extortion has damaged the state's image, as commercial establishments and individuals have been attacked with firearms.

He said that in April there was a spike in the crime of telephone extortion and virtual kidnapping, "although later there was a decrease thanks to the information campaigns deployed, and we have had weeks where not a single case has been reported."

Finally, he stated: "We are making it increasingly difficult for criminals to operate in Quintana Roo, which is why they have had to move to other states."