Esta ley enmienda la "Puerto Rico Police Act of 1996" para permitir que los descendientes de un oficial de policía fallecido puedan solicitar el número de placa de su familiar, estableciendo un orden de preferencia para dicha solicitud. También autoriza al Superintendente de la Policía a reglamentar el procedimiento.
(Approved January 8, 2004)
To amend Section 11, subsection
(f) of Act No. 53, of June 10, 1996, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Police Act of 1996", for the purpose of allowing descendants of a deceased police officer to change their badge number to that of their closest deceased relative, to establish the order of change in badge numbers; and for other purposes.
The Puerto Rico Police is the civil national security body of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. In spite of the risks that our police face every day, the members of the corps are proud of the work they perform to protect our citizenry.
At times, the feeling that arises from the recognition of an honorable police career makes the descendents of a police officer who has died, or fallen in the line of duty, aspire to continue the work begun by other members of the family, of deceased police officers. It shall be kept in mind that the pride of being members of this Honorable Body is what makes possible the existence in the same family, of parents, children and grandchildren members of the corps.
Due to the meritorious work that these self-sacrificing and anonymous heroes perform, is it just that the members of the police corps who aspire to proudly bear the badge number of their deceased loved one, may do so. In this way, we honor the deceased police officer and we preserve the pride of the family member who
desires to continue with the same badge number of the family member, with the responsibility that it entails.
Section 1.- Section 11 of Act No. 53 of June 10, 1996, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Police Act of 1996", is hereby amended to read as follows: "Section 11.- Uniform and Equipment
(a) $[\ldots]$ $[\ldots]$
(f) Upon the demise while in active service of any member of the Police who has served the corps honorably for fifteen (15) years, his/her badge number shall be retired and shall not be assigned to any person, with the exception of a direct descendant who, being a member of the Puerto Rico Police, requests to change his badge number for that of his predecessor. In case the deceased member of the corps has two (2) or more dependents who could claim the badge number, it shall be granted to the one who first entered the Puerto Rico Police, this person being able to waive such right in favor of the descendant following him in order of preference. It is also provided that upon the demise of any member of the Police while in the performance of his/her duties, his/her badge shall be presented to the surviving spouse or, in the absence of the latter, to his/her parents or dependents. With the exception of the above, any person who uses such badge to distinguish or identify him/herself as an active member of the Police, shall incur a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished with a
maximum fine of five hundred (500) dollars or imprisonment for a term not greater than six (6) months or both penalties, at the discretion of the Court.
Section 2.- The Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police is hereby authorized to establish the procedure to be followed for the change of badge number herein provided, through regulations.
Section 3. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 32 (H.B. 4110) of the $6^{ ext {th }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to amend Section 11, subsection
(f) of Act No. 53, of June 10, 1996, as amended, known as the "Puerto Rico Police Act of 1996", for the purpose of allowing descendants of a deceased police officer to change their badge number to that of their closest deceased relative, to establish the order of change in badge numbers; and for other purposes, has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $2^{ ext {nd }}$ of May of 2005.
Luis E. Fusté-Lacourt Director
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