Cancun police arrested 34 officers who had refused to wear body cameras since last October.
Ricardo Emmanuel Zamora Patiño, Director of Internal Affairs for the Benito Juárez Municipal Secretariat of Citizen Security and Transit, explained that the sanctions are part of internal supervision and control.
He stated that the measures implemented are intended to guarantee the proper performance of police officers.
“There are several reasons. First, poor performance of their duties, and also the issue of camera use, which has been ongoing since last year.”
The number of officers turning off their devices has decreased, he commented, but they are still being reminded to wear their body cameras.
As a result of this oversight, he said, no arrests have been made specifically for the misuse of body cameras in the first two months of the year.
The public official noted that, since the implementation of these devices, the total number of officers sanctioned for this reason is 34.
Among the officers found to have turned off or avoided wearing their cameras, one is currently facing suspension, and his case will be referred to the Honor and Justice Council for review and appropriate action.
“They offer various excuses for sometimes leaving the camera in the vehicle, and the Internal Affairs Directorate catches them during patrols and inspections, and they are arrested.”
Zamora Patiño emphasized that even when officers try to justify their infraction, the use of body cameras is mandatory, and they must not remove them at any time during their work shift.
When a violation is detected During supervisory patrols, he explained, arrest warrants are issued immediately, in accordance with regulations, with penalties that can reach up to 36 hours.
“In the first instance, if it’s an arrest as per regulations, and in the second, when we have a repeat offender, we have to investigate for suspension, of which we have one case.”
From January to February, 24 officers of the force have been referred to the Internal Affairs Directorate, primarily for misconduct.
When there is evidence of a possible crime, the Internal Affairs Directorate immediately notifies the State Attorney General’s Office or the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, depending on the nature of the detected offenses.
In 2025, the Benito Juárez municipality provided 725 body cameras to municipal police officers, with an investment exceeding 31 million pesos.
The devices have 2K resolution and a recording autonomy of up to 12 hours, allowing for continuous audio and video recording throughout their shifts. The workday is recorded, providing direct evidence of each police intervention.
The computer system includes a biometric database that automatically assigns a facial recognition code to its user, ensuring accurate identification of the recordings and preventing any unauthorized manipulation.
Source: lucesdelsiglo
