Tulum Police Get Body Cameras and GPS Trackers in Security Push

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Tulum police officers will be equipped with body-worn cameras and GPS-tracked patrol vehicles as part of a broader push to strengthen public safety and support the tourism-dependent town’s economic recovery.

State Government Secretary Cristina Torres Gómez said the measures are part of an internal overhaul of police departments in Tulum, a resort town on the Riviera Maya. Officers who do not meet the required professional profile have been removed from duty, she said.

“We are working on it. Some people who do not meet the profiles have been let go, the lapel cameras are being institutionalized so they reach 100 percent of officers, GPS is being installed in patrol cars, and all operations must be interagency,” Torres said.

She acknowledged that not every police force is performing well, but said the overall strategy is moving forward. “One police force may not be right, but it is difficult for all of them to be wrong,” she said.

Homicides down 38%

Torres said the state has seen a 38% drop in intentional homicides, a result of a strategy that began with strengthening local police. She said security forces were neglected for years, with little training, low salaries and insufficient equipment.

“For years there was no growth in police numbers, no decent wages or training. You cannot demand results if they are not prepared. Now there is training, insurance and a police university — the best-paid police in the country,” she said.

Private cameras to feed state surveillance

In the next phase, authorities want residents and businesses to connect their private security cameras to the state’s C5 surveillance center. Torres cited London as an example, where 90% of cameras are privately owned and linked to the national surveillance network.

“That is the direction we should work in. We need to replicate successful experiences,” she said.

Torres said the measures aim to restore public trust, improve security in Tulum and help sustain the municipality’s tourism and economic activity.