By The Star Staff
Rep. Ángel Matos García on Wednesday requested the return of the San Juan tourist police division given the recent rise in violent crime in the capital city.
The division, with officers on foot, and on all-terrain vehicles, boats and bicycles, reinforced the tourist areas in San Juan.
“Its absence has been demonstrated, with the latest incidents such as in La Perla where three people were stabbed, as well as the shooting with multiple victims in La Placita de Santurce, among other crimes such as robberies and ‘carjackings’ in broad daylight, which give the destination on unsafe image, affecting hotels, restaurants and entertainment centers,” the Popular Democratic Party majority leader said in a written statement.
The Carolina District legislator said that the images have gone around the world and if extraordinary and forceful measures are not taken, the negative effect will be immediate.
“This year 2023 is shaping up to be the most violent of the decade and the government cannot continue to sit idly by in the face of all this blood in the streets of San Juan,” Matos García said.