House approves bill to create independent Police of Puerto Rico after heated debate

San Juan — The House of Representatives voted to approve Project de la Cámara 406 on April 28, 2025, creating a separate Police of Puerto Rico and removing the police bureau from the Department of Public Safety. The measure passed 33–16 after roughly 30 minutes of recorded final voting and an extended floor debate earlier in the afternoon.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Víctor Parés Otero, said the measure “fortalece la autonomía fiscal y administrativa” of the new police entity and argued separation would let the superintendent directly manage budgeting, equipment purchases and training. “Esta figura da total autonomía a ese cargo del superintendente de la policía de Puerto Rico,” Parés said during floor remarks describing the bill’s goals and the transition plan discussed in public hearings.

Supporters from the majority argued the change will give the police clearer control over resources and procurement, allow targeted federal and local funding, and improve operational responsiveness. Parés noted agencies that participated in the bill’s public hearing — including the Police Bureau, Department of Public Safety, Department of Justice, AFAF, Hacienda and the Office of Management and Budget — endorsed aspects of the proposal, and that the bill provides an “ordenada transición” of personnel, budget and equipment.

Opponents raised concerns about process, oversight and carryover costs. Representative Torres Cruz said the bill repeated a pattern of incremental separations that previously removed other agencies from the Department of Public Safety, and called that sequence “una crónica de una muerte anunciada” for the umbrella department. Representative Adriana Gutiérrez Colón highlighted public-safety risks in the bill’s language: she said the proposal exempts police personnel from portions of Law 8 on mobility, recruitment, evaluation and transfers and leaves disciplinary definitions to superintendent regulation rather than statutory standards. “Esta exclusión… priva a la policía de Puerto Rico de un foro donde apelar estos planteamientos,” Gutiérrez said.

Representative Héctor Ferrer Santiago, speaking for his delegation, compared the creation of the Department of Public Safety in 2017 to a Frankenstein-style consolidation that failed to deliver efficiencies, and urged lawmakers to consider a broader approach — including House Project 261, which would eliminate the umbrella department entirely and give autonomy to all constituent agencies.

The bill’s final text as approved includes provisions for a transition to the new police structure and assigns administrative and fiscal autonomy to the superintendent post once implemented. The sponsor estimated that roughly 1,000 employees who currently work within the Department of Public Safety components would be affected by the transition; that figure was stated on the record during debate.

Formal action: The House approved Project de la Cámara 406 as amended. Final recorded tally: 33 yes, 16 no.

The new law takes effect according to the enactment language in the approved text and sets out an immediate transition process; the transcript records that transition steps were discussed but does not specify exact implementation dates beyond the bill’s text.