Playa del Carmen to Deploy 100 Tourist Police on Quinta Avenida

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Security along the 2.5-kilometer stretch of Quinta Avenida will be reinforced with a force of 100 police officers, the city’s top public security official said.

Carlos Montesinos García, secretary of Citizen Security and Municipal Traffic, said the additional officers will fall under the Tourist Police Directorate, headed by Osiris Ceballos, and will be backed by ambulances to handle emergencies.

The announcement builds on the daily Blindaje Quinta Avenida operation, which currently involves authorities from all three levels of government and fields 21 officers on the day shift and 48 at night.

Vehicles and beach coverage

Montesinos García said the tourist zone has ten razer-style vehicles that can deploy 20 officers at a time. The department also coordinates with Civil Protection on beach safety.

Separately, the department has deployed 72 officers and 25 patrol vehicles who conduct foot patrols through markets, street markets, pedestrian areas and shopping centers, alongside vehicle patrols.

Reports beyond crime

The secretary said direct contact with residents helps authorities identify problems that are not always crime-related, such as excessive noise, burned-out streetlights and green spaces being used as dumping grounds. Those reports are compiled into a list delivered to the municipal government so the issues can be addressed.

Officers are also distributing information on how to prevent extortion. Montesinos García said the department has a specialized unit and a multidisciplinary team that provides psychological and legal support to victims, along with intelligence and investigation work.

Residents can request help or file a report by calling 911 or 089, or by contacting the department directly.