Dozens of citizens spoke Thursday in Bayamón about the status of the Police Reform during a community meeting called by federal district judge Francisco Besosa and Puerto Rico Police leadership. The event marked 13 years since the Reform was signed and eight years since compliance began being measured under the agreement that ended a U.S. government civil rights lawsuit, originally ordered in July 2013 by then-chief federal judge Gustavo A. Gelpí.
Police officials cited the latest report from federal monitor John Romero, showing 83% of some level of compliance: 52% partial compliance, 14% substantial compliance, and 17% complete compliance. Superintendent Joseph González said most non-compliance areas involve technology, adding that pilot programs will launch early next year. The meeting, required under the Reform, drew over 60 citizens representing communities from the 10 municipalities in the Bayamón police region.
Anixa Santiago Rivera described a traumatic traffic stop in which an officer pointed a flashlight and firearm at her while she tried to communicate as a deaf person, saying there was no communication or interpreter and urging police to better identify when sign-language interpreters are needed. Stephanie Hernández Russo called for training to prevent officers from misinterpreting deaf individuals in ways that could escalate encounters.