In Puerto Rico, the Police Superintendent, Joseph González, has initiated a review of recommendations in the case of Sergeant Abiel Soto Méndez, a former bodyguard of Janet Parra, after a federal judge, Francisco Besosa, overturned the Police’s decision not to take disciplinary actions against Soto Méndez. The review comes after Besosa accepted the argument of federal monitor John Romero that Soto Méndez failed to cooperate with an administrative investigation, which is required by the Police Reform Agreement.
The investigation was launched after Soto Méndez allegedly tried to obtain confidential information from the director of security and electronic surveillance of the Police’s Capitol District. The Police’s Office of Legal Affairs had previously recommended that the complaint be dismissed, but Besosa questioned this decision, citing the lack of legal basis. The case will now be reevaluated by the Police’s Professional Responsibility Division, and if the Superintendent determines that disciplinary action is justified, Soto Méndez will be notified and given the opportunity to be heard before a final resolution is issued.