Public Officials Terrorizing: Inside Stories of Abuse Victims in Quintana Roo

There have been recent revelations of abuse victims in Quintana Roo, involving men in uniform who have used their positions of power to perpetrate violence, particularly domestic violence.

Protection Becomes a Deadly Threat:

Two women have come forward with accounts of abuse from men in uniform. These abuses range from death threats and sexual harassment to unlawful imprisonment. One of the abusers is a firefighter in Playa del Carmen, while the other is a state police officer. Despite reports of their actions, one was promoted rather than punished, and the other continues to carry a firearm, posing a threat primarily to women. The victims are left to deal with the aftermath.

Interviews with men who have been accused of violence against women reveal a lack of understanding about what constitutes such violence. Many do not recognize that actions such as criticizing appearance, forbidding interaction with others, or forcing sex are forms of violence.

Roger, a 40-year-old hotel worker, restricts his wife's interactions with their colleagues, insisting she must earn respect. Angel, 35, has curbed his violent behavior towards his wife for the sake of their daughters, but his wife fears he is a ticking time bomb. Rony, 42, justifies infidelity by blaming the women who approach him. Néstor, 28, expects his wife to handle all domestic duties despite both of them working.

Uniforms Masking Terror: Surviving Public Servant Violence

A firefighter, who also works as a taxi driver in his free time, has been blacklisted from two theme park sites for sexual harassment. Despite this, his union, "Lázaro Cárdenas del Río", has taken no action against him. He has also been identified as the perpetrator of an assault on a colleague and sexual harassment of a woman from Civil Protection, who was threatened with the release of an intimate video. He faces no consequences due to his superiors' protection.

Daniela's case is ongoing, and she approached this publication for help after being repeatedly ignored or blocked in her attempts to seek justice. She fears that the situation may ultimately favor her aggressor, despite his known history of abuse.