Cancún, QR — Nearly three months after their implementation, 23 police officers in the municipality of Benito Juárez have been sanctioned for failing to use body-worn cameras during their shifts, confirmed Jaime Padilla Barrientos, head of the Municipal Citizen Security Secretariat.
The official indicated that the police force currently has 725 body cameras, which every officer is required to wear in compliance with internal regulations.
Zero Tolerance for Police Officers Not Using Body Cameras
Padilla Barrientos specified that the police officers who omitted using the body cameras received administrative arrest, as part of a zero-tolerance policy towards conduct that affects transparency and citizen trust.
He emphasized that not wearing this equipment constitutes a serious offense, because body cameras are an essential resource for documenting the conduct of officers in the field.
The head of Security explained that the use of the cameras provides certainty to both citizens and the officers themselves during operational interventions.
Only in specific cases, such as when an officer needs to use the restroom, is temporary removal of the device authorized, provided there is prior notification.
Finally, Padilla Barrientos warned that the administrative arrests could lead to the cases being referred to the Honor and Justice Council, where the possible expulsion of the sanctioned officers would be evaluated if recidivism or severity of the offense is determined.
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