Police commissioner says death of a veteran in Utuado is ‘a tragedy on both sides’

By The Star Staff

Police Commissioner Joseph González Falcón responded Tuesday to questions from the press about the incident in Utuado, in which an officer shot and killed a man identified as Daniel Maldonado Díaz during an intervention at his residence early Monday morning.

“It’s a tragedy on both sides,” González said at a press conference at Police Headquarters in Hato Rey. “Our colleagues received a call about a complaint, they arrived at the scene as quickly as possible, and what happened happened. I cannot and should not expand further on this matter.”

The police commissioner said the officer involved was disarmed as part of the agency’s protocol, evaluated by a psychologist, and subsequently issued a backup weapon. “This colleague decided to take a few days off,” González said, noting that the officer was not transferred to other duties as had been suggested.

Regarding staff preparation for handling situations involving people who may be experiencing mental health issues, González stated that officers receive training, although he acknowledged the difficulty of identifying these conditions upon arriving at a scene.

“We often arrive and don’t know the person’s condition,” he said. “We go out to address a complaint we receive.”

The commissioner declined to comment on the officer’s specific actions during the intervention, noting that doing so would be irresponsible without a complete picture.

“When we talk about these situations, things happen in seconds,” he said. “The perspective of each of the colleagues involved is different.”

The investigation into the use of force is being conducted by the Special Investigations Division and the Use of Force Investigation Unit.