(S.B. 2510)
(No. 145)
(Approved June 11, 2004)
AN ACT
To amend subsection C of Section No. 38 of Act No. 53 of June 10, 1996,
known the “Puerto Rico Police Act,” in order to establish December 31,
1994, as the date for joining the Force after which the education
requirements shall apply.
STATEMENT OF MOTIVES
Criminal organizations become increasingly more sophisticated, forcing
the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to use other
alternatives to fight crime. Originally it was thought that the Puerto Rico
Police should be professionalized so as to provide our agents with greater
resources.
Our society evolves within an environment is overwhelmed by crime,
drug addition, alcoholism, family violence and other factors which affect the
physical and mental health of the Puerto Rican population. Education is the
most powerful tool society has for achieving social mobility and most
specifically for improving its quality of life.
The establishment of greater educational requirements, particularly for
those who aspire to ranks in Police Force, constitutes a significant step in the
continuing efforts for turning out professionals in this public service sector.
The Government is seriously committed to offering the officers of the
Puerto Rico Police Force an educational foundation of excellence. Those
police officers who obtain an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice have a
2
better professional future. Besides, a better education contributes positively
to ensuring the most capable fulfillment of the duties of the Puerto Rico
Police and to providing the physical security of the citizens of Puerto Rico
and their property. However, it was not until 1994 when the Criminal Justice
Academy, which subsequently became the College of Criminal Justice in
1997, began to offer associate degrees.
It is then a measure of social justice to allow that the thousands of good
Puerto Ricans who put their lives on the line from day to day, be able to take
the examinations for promotion to the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant II and
Lieutenant I. This amendment is introduced so as to do justice to those
police officers who joined the Force on or before December 31, 1994 and
who were excluded from the promotion lists because they lacked an
Associate Degree, even when said degree was not offered until the year
1995.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF PUERTO RICO:
Section 1.- Subsection C of Section No. 38 of Act No. 53 of June 10,
1996, is hereby amended to read as follows:
“Section 38.- Transitory Provisions-
(A) …
(B) …
(C) It is hereby provided that as of January 1, 1977, it shall be an
indispensable requirement that in order to be eligible to the ranks of
Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel to have taken and approved not less than
sixty-four (64) university credit hours at a college or university certified or
accredited by the Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico. As of
January 1, 1979, it shall be an eligibility requirement for the ranks of
Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel to hold a Bachelor’s degree from a college
3
or university certified or accredited by the Council on Higher Education of
Puerto Rico. The required university studies herein established shall not
apply to the members of the Force who joined the same before December
31, 1994.
It is hereby provided that as of January 1, 2000, it shall be an eligibility
requirement for the ranks of Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel to hold a
Master’s Degree or its equivalent granted by a college or university certified
or accredited by the Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico; for the
ranks of Commander, Inspector and Captain to hold a Bachelor’s degree
granted by a college or university certified or accredited by the Council on
Higher Education of Puerto Rico; for the ranks of First Lieutenant, Second
Lieutenant, Sergeant and Police Officer to hold an Associate Degree granted
by the Police Academy or by a college or university certified or accredited
by the Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico. The required academic
studies herein established shall not apply to the members of the Force who
joined the same before December 31, 1994.”
…
…
Section 2.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
4
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 145 (S.B. 2510) of the
7th Session of the 14th Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend subsection C of Section No. 38 of Act No. 53 of June 10, 1996,
known the “Puerto Rico Police Act,” in order to establish December 31, 1994,
as the date for joining the Force after which the education requirements shall
apply,
has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today 10th of June of 2005.
Luis E. Fusté-Lacourt
Director