The Ministry of the Interior (Mingob) and the National Civil Police (PNC) sent a warning to the country’s 340 municipalities to avoid using uniforms, insignia, emblems and badges that could be confused with those used by the police institution.
The communication was sent by the General Directorate of the PNC to all the communes of the country as a preventive measure. According to Mingob sources, not all municipalities present similarities with the institutional image of the PNC; however, the goal is to prevent that practice from continuing or being adopted in the future.
“Decree number 35-2024 of the Congress of the Republic, Law of the National Civil Police, expressly establishes that The uniform, badges, insignia and other institutional symbols are for the exclusive use of this institution, provision that responds to principles of legality, legal security, institutional identity and protection of the public service, aimed at avoiding confusion of jurisdiction and any risk to citizens,” states the document signed by the general director of the PNC, David Estuardo Custodio Boteo.
The PNC also indicated that it has detected cases in which municipal police personnel use clothing with characteristics similar to those used by the police force.
“In this regulatory context, It has been identified that, in the municipality to its worthy administration, the personnel assigned to the Municipal Police “uses clothing, insignia or emblems that are similar to those used by the National Civil Police,” the letter explains to the communities.
The institution clarifies that it does not attribute irregular intention to the local authorities, but considers it necessary to prevent possible confusion.
“Although this situation is not due to improper intention, it is pertinent to warn that, in an involuntary manner, it may generate confusion in the population regarding the competent authority, legal powers and mechanisms of action in matters of security and traffic,” the communication added.
Furthermore, the PNC warns that these similarities can cause operational and administrative problems.
“This circumstance, furthermore, It can affect citizen perception, the processes for handling complaints, the execution of inter-institutional operations and the delimitation of administrative responsibilities.so it is necessary to address it from a preventive, technical and coordinated approach,” the document states.
The Ministry of the Interior stated that, if the municipalities do not comply with the recommendations, will file a complaint with the Public Ministry.
Letter was sent to all communes
The General Directorate asked the municipalities to review their badges and uniforms as a preventive measure.
According to Mingob, the circular was distributed on February 4 to the 340 municipalities of the country to unify criteria and avoid future confusion among the population, regardless of whether or not there is currently a similarity between the uniforms of each Municipal Police and those of the PNC.
Mixco, Ayutla and Ocós among the cases that have generated debate
The warning comes after several municipalities have been accused of using uniforms, vehicles and equipment similar to those of the PNC.
One of the most visible cases is that of Mixco. Mayor Neto Bran has publicly promoted the work of the Municipal Police and, on several occasions, has highlighted that his agents carry out citizen security tasks.
“My Municipal Police providing security to the residents of Mixco on buses and stops. The only mayor at the national level who has his own municipal police providing security,” the mayor wrote on his social networks.
The publications show municipal police carrying out inspections on buses, checking people in public spaces and preventive patrols.
Another documented case corresponds to Ayutla and Ocós, San Marcos. A report published by Free press in December 2024 showed that municipal police officers from both municipalities carried out patrols with uniforms similar to those of the PNC, tactical equipment and long weapons.
Ayutla and Ocós share several characteristics: they are municipalities on the border with Mexico and their former municipal authorities have been linked by US authorities to drug trafficking structures.
In Ayutla, former mayor Érick Salvador Suñiga Rodríguez, alias “Pocho”, was accused by United States authorities of crimes related to drug trafficking. The current mayor, Isel Suñiga, is the daughter of the former mayor.
In Ocós, former mayor Carlos Preciado Navarijo was sentenced in September 2024 to 10 years in prison by a court in the Eastern District of Texas, after pleading guilty to charges related to cocaine trafficking.
These antecedents have raised questions about the strengthening and equipping of the municipal police in both locations.
Neighbors interviewed on that occasion indicated that some municipal police officers carried out actions that they considered typical of the PNC, including the arrest of suspects and armed patrols.
Experts warn of security risks
Security and justice analyst Edgar Morales considers that the Mingob warning is a necessary measure in the face of the risk that criminal structures will take advantage of the similarity of uniforms.
“The fact that there are uniforms similar to those of the National Civil Police brings a very great risk in that they can be used by organized crime to commit criminal acts, or that they bring confusion to the Guatemalan population regarding the authority of the person who wears it,” he commented.
According to the expert, in some municipalities there are uniforms almost identical to those used by the national police force.
“I consider that the action taken by the Ministry of the Interior by warning the municipalities of this situation is a positive action,” he said.
Morales warned that uniforms can be used to carry out actions and project an authority that they do not legally possess.
“People who use the uniforms can generate an issue of pseudo-authority when wearing them and being able to carry out actions typical of the PNC,” he stated.
Morales also warned about municipalities where municipal police have acquired a presence that could foster confusion about the functions of each institution.
“Many of the mayors who are exercising their functions have been accused of having links with organized crime or with drug trafficking cartels. This brings with it precisely what they implement within their municipal demarcations security personnel, who pass through members of the Municipal Police,” he pointed out.
Former prosecutor points out legal vacuum in the municipal police
The former prosecutor of the Public Ministry and security analyst, Edgar Gómez, agrees on the need to regulate municipal police forces.
He explained that currently there are motorized municipal bodies, patrols and uniforms that can be confused with those of the PNC.
“There are motorized municipalities where it seems like the GRIL Wolves are patrolling. There are also municipalities that have labeled radio patrols, some very similar to those of the National Civil Police,” he commented.
Gómez recalled that the PNC has specific uniformity standards to differentiate each unit.
The former prosecutor also pointed out that the similarity extends to the weapons used by municipal police.
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“We see some municipalities that also use long weapons or carbines very similar to AR-15s. There is a lot of confusion in the population about whether they are PNC or PM,” he added.
In his opinion, the main problem is the lack of regulation in the Municipal Code.
“The Municipal Code is very poor in defining that. There will be a couple of articles that define the existence of a Municipal Police and the majority is governed through regulations approved by each municipal council,” he highlighted.
What happens if the municipalities do not comply?
In Gómez’s opinion, the Congress of the Republic should carry out reforms to regulate all communes in matters of security and use of weapons.
“It is prudent that the Congress of the Republic regulate this so that there is equality throughout the country and we do not have 340 municipal police officers with different functions depending on what each municipal corporation decides,” he said.
Regarding the consequences for the communes that decide to ignore the letter sent by the Interior, Gómez explained that the scenario could lead to criminal proceedings for crimes related to the improper use of official insignia or badges.
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“If a person wears a uniform very similar to that of the National Civil Police or that of an Army officer without having those qualities, that can constitute a crime,” he said.
He clarified that the current situation moves in a gray area due to the lack of specific regulation on municipal police forces.
“It is appropriate that the authorities analyze and issue appropriate legislation that regulates the functioning of the municipal police and the municipal traffic police, because they currently invade specific functions that correspond to the Ministry of the Interior through the PNC,” he concluded.