San Juan lays out its Holy Week security plan.

San Juan Mayor Miguel A. Romero Lugo said Municipal Police cadets will also be deployed to support security at religious services, processions and community activities related to Holy Week.

By THE STAR STAFF

San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo on Monday announced the activation of a strategic security and preventative surveillance plan for Holy Week, aimed at safeguarding the lives and property of residents, visitors and tourists traveling to the capital city during this period of high traffic. 

The special operation will run from this Wednesday through next Monday, April 6, with a reinforced presence of the Municipal Police, Municipal Emergency Management, and support personnel at various points throughout San Juan.

“Holy Week is a time when thousands of people travel to the capital city to spend time with their families, participate in religious activities, or enjoy our public spaces,” the mayor said. “Therefore, we have activated a comprehensive and preventative security plan that will allow us to reinforce surveillance, respond quickly to any situation, and provide peace of mind to both our residents and those who visit us during these days.”

As part of the plan, the Municipal Police will establish preventive patrols in areas with high concentrations of people, including the Escambrón and Último Trolley beaches, where two command centers will be set up to reinforce surveillance and response capacity. Police will also be present in those areas on foot, on motorcycles, and in 4x4 vehicles capable of traveling on sand.

Additionally, surveillance in the maritime zone will be reinforced through the implementation of 12-hour shifts, in order to respond more quickly to any incidents that may arise along the capital city’s coastline during the long weekend. The Municipal Police Traffic Unit will also maintain active surveillance on main roads as part of a campaign coordinated with the Traffic Safety Commission, focused on accident prevention and providing guidance to drivers during the period of increased traffic.

Municipal Police cadets will also be deployed to support security at religious services, processions and community activities related to Holy Week. Likewise, continuous surveillance will be maintained in areas of high tourist and recreational activity due to spring break, including La Placita de Santurce, Cerra Street, Old San Juan and Loíza Street.

“This plan is part of a preventative strategy and involves an active presence in areas where we know there will be greater movement of people,” San Juan Municipal Police Commissioner Juan Jackson Rodríguez said.

The San Juan Municipal Office for Emergency Management, meanwhile, will activate additional resources from Thursday to Sunday to respond to incidents on the coasts and other emergencies, including two Kawasakis with paramedics and rescuers, a boat with rescue and paramedic personnel, two ambulances, a rescue unit, a firefighting unit, specialized operational personnel, and aerial and maritime drone equipment to support surveillance and response operations.

“Holy Week requires preparation, presence, and responsiveness,” said Carlos Acevedo, the office’s director.