Puerto Rico Police Superintendent Joseph González said on Monday, November 9, that an official vehicle used for moving work at the Héctor N. Acevedo building in Hato Rey was part of an authorized agency operation to collect office furniture declared surplus by the Automobile Accident Compensation Administration (ACAA). His statements came after Metro Puerto Rico photographed a truck with the state plate GE10898 carrying shelves, furniture and files, alongside a marked Puerto Rico Police unit.
Two people doing the moving work declined to say which office the furniture belonged to. The Police initially said the items were donated to the force and that the truck had been used to remove them, without saying where they would go. González later gave a detailed account.
He said the process began with a formal request on October 14 to the ACAA’s executive director for furniture for Police administrative offices and citizen service areas, to be distributed among Police units in San Juan, Aguadilla, Fajardo and Mayagüez according to each installation’s needs. Reusing the furniture, he said, improves those spaces and reduces the need for additional purchases.
González said proper use of official vehicles is the responsibility of all Government of Puerto Rico public servants and condemned any improper use, insisting the vehicle was used for an official, legitimate Police operation.