EX-FBI official is new Puerto Rico police chief
Apr 11, 2012, 7:50 PM
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – A former FBI official has been sworn in as the new chief of police in Puerto Rico at a time of heightened concern about crime on the island.
Hector Pesquera took the oath of office Wednesday, two days after his nomination was approved by Puerto Rico’s Senate.
As superintendent, Pesquera will be in charge of a department with 17,000 officers. Pesquera gave no details on his plans to address crime in a U.S. territory that had a record number of homicides last year.
He said officers need better training and equipment and more help from the public. The 65-year-old Pesquera has held FBI posts in Puerto Rico, Florida, Washington and South America. He was most recently assistant director of Miami’s Port Authority.
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