Puerto Rico Police - Rank Structure

Rank Structure

The Police Superintendent is the top commanding officer. He is one of five "head of government agencies" appointed by the governor of Puerto Rico. He leads the department and makes the orders to the agency, and also instructs the commanding officers for field operations.

Since 1899, police chiefs in Puerto Rico were appointed by the United States Government. Selecting the police chief was originally a responsibility of the commanding officer of the United States Army in Puerto Rico, who also served as the governor until 1900, when the Foraker Act was established. Afterwards, police chiefs were named by the U.S. Appointed Governor of Puerto Rico and the Chief of Police could serve in that position for not more than 4 years.

Law #77 converted the Puerto Rico Insular Police into the Puerto Rico Police Department on June 22, 1956. This converted the department from a quasi-military organization into a civil police force. The Chief of Police position was replaced by a Superintendent. Since then, the police superintendent has been named by the Governor of Puerto Rico.

The Associate Superintendent is the second in command. He follows every order from the superintendent, including if the superintendent cannot do some specific things that the second in command can do. Also, in case of sickness, disability or death, the Associate Superintendent assumes the position of Superintendent.

The Auxiliary Superintendent of Field Operations is in charge of every activity in the Puerto Rico Police Department that is related with the protection of life and property, maintaining law and order, the protection of civil rights and crime prevention, almost as a 2nd in command. He plans, coordinates, leads and controls all the operational actions on the prevention service phase with the integration of citizens in a common effort and meet the training-educational aspect of children and to prevent youth crime, in line with guidelines issued by the Superintendent. Also, he applies the public policy on rescuing the affected communities by groups linked to drug trafficking that took control of the perimeters of the public and private housing projects.