Tulum Police Officer Under Investigation for Excessive Force

A municipal police officer in Tulum is currently under administrative review following a video that surfaced online showing him using excessive force on a civilian. The incident involved a man who was reportedly consuming alcohol in the central park. The video, which started circulating on social media platforms last Thursday, has sparked widespread criticism over an apparent abuse of power.

Roberto Rodriguez Bautista, the Secretary of Public Safety and Citizen Protection in the municipality, confirmed the incident happened a few days ago. He revealed during a press conference that the officer in question violated standard procedures by failing to report the arrest to the command center.

According to the officer's initial account, the man, seemingly intoxicated, became aggressive when questioned during a routine security patrol in the area. The officer confessed to using an arm lock and striking the man, who eventually managed to flee, leaving his radio behind in the process.

The video footage shows the officer attempting to detain the man, who resisted, leading to a physical altercation. The officer's use of force in the video appears to exceed acceptable levels. This incident is now one of six active investigations into police officers for abuse of power and extortion in the area.

Rodriguez Bautista confirmed that the Internal Affairs Department initiated an investigation into the incident as soon as it came to their attention. He assured that all complaints will be thoroughly evaluated by the Honor and Justice Commission, with appropriate sanctions applied in accordance with established procedures.

So far in 2024, two municipal police officers have been dismissed following confirmed incidents of extortion against foreign tourists. This recent case once again draws attention to the conduct and procedures of the Tulum police force, with five other ongoing administrative processes currently active against members of the same department.