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| State Police of Puebla | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | State Police of Puebla |
| Native name | Policía Estatal de Puebla |
| Abbreviation | PEP |
| Formed | State of Puebla, Mexico (modern reorganization 2019) |
| Country | Mexico |
| Divtype | Puebla |
| Headquarters | Puebla City |
| Sworn type | Police officers |
State Police of Puebla The State Police of Puebla is the principal statewide police force responsible for public safety in the Puebla region. It operates alongside municipal forces, federal agencies and specialized units across urban and rural jurisdictions including Puebla City, Tehuacán, Atlixco, and San Andrés Cholula. The agency interacts with institutions such as the Secretariat of Security and Civil Protection, the Office of the Attorney General and regional counterparts like the State Police of Veracruz and State Police of Oaxaca.
The origins of provincial policing in Puebla trace to post-revolutionary reforms following the Mexican Revolution and the establishment of state constabularies during the Constitution of 1917 era. Throughout the 20th century, the force evolved amid political shifts under governors such as Gabino Barreda and later administrations including Manuel Ávila Camacho-era institutions. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, interactions with federal operations like Operation Puebla Seguro and policies inspired by the Mexican Drug War prompted reorganizations. Notable reforms were enacted during the tenures of governors Martha Erika Alonso Hidalgo and Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas, culminating in a 2019 reorganization to address issues highlighted by collaborations with the National Guard (Mexico) and the Federal Police (Mexico). Historical incidents involving coordination with the PGR (Attorney General of the Republic) and responses to events such as the 2017 Puebla earthquake shaped operational priorities.
Command of the agency is vested in a Secretary or Chief reporting to the Puebla executive branch and coordinating with entities like the Secretaría de Gobernación for public order. The organizational map includes divisions modeled after federal counterparts: a Criminal Investigation Division aligned with the Federal Investigation Agency (AIC), an Intelligence Unit liaising with the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia, a Highway Patrol similar to the Guardia Nacional, and a Tactical Response Group influenced by units such as the Special Reaction Force (Mexico). Regional commands cover municipalities including Tehuacán, Cholula, San Martín Texmelucan, and Izúcar de Matamoros. Administrative bureaus work with institutions like the Institute for Territorial Administration and interagency task forces with the Secretariat of National Defense (Mexico) and the Navy Secretariat on disaster response.
Rank structure echoes models used by other Mexican state forces: entry-level officers, non-commissioned officers, and commissioned officers including Lieutenants, Captains, Majors and Colonels, with senior leadership titles paralleling those in the National Guard (Mexico). Personnel recruitment draws candidates from regional populations including graduates of institutions such as the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and police academies linked to the Secretary of Public Security. Notable career paths include transfers from municipal bodies like the Municipal Police of Puebla City and federal agencies such as the Federal Police (Mexico), as well as secondments from the Mexican Army and the Mexican Navy. Specialized roles mirror those in agencies like the Tourist Police (Mexico) and the Judicial Police.
Primary duties encompass crime prevention, public order maintenance, highway enforcement on routes like the 150D corridor, and coordination during emergencies similar to the 2017 Puebla earthquake response. Jurisdiction includes municipalities across Puebla and liaison responsibilities with federal prosecutors such as the Fiscalía General de la República for organized crime cases connected to cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The force enforces state statutes within the legal framework established by the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States and works with municipal counterparts such as the Municipal Police of Tehuacán, the Municipal Police of San Andrés Cholula, and auxiliary groups including the Civil Protection (Mexico) services.
Equipment inventories resemble those of comparable state forces, featuring sidearms and tactical gear procured under protocols from the Secretariat of National Defense (Mexico). Vehicle fleets include marked SUVs, patrol sedans, and armored vehicles similar to models used by the National Guard (Mexico) and state counterparts like the State Police of Jalisco. Aerial support has been provided intermittently through assets linked to the Navy Secretariat and the Secretariat of National Defense helicopter detachments. Communications employ encrypted systems compatible with networks used by the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia and interoperable radios used by the Federal Highway Police.
Training pathways involve state academies collaborating with institutions such as the National Police Academy (Mexico), the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla law programs, and federal training centers run by the Secretariat of Security and Civil Protection (Mexico). Curriculum components are influenced by standards from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime programs and include modules on human rights promoted by the National Human Rights Commission (Mexico). Exchange programs, seminars, and joint exercises occur with units like the National Guard (Mexico), the Federal Police (Mexico), and foreign training partners that have included advisors from agencies similar to the FBI and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The agency has been subject to scrutiny over incidents of alleged misconduct, prompting investigations by the State Human Rights Commission of Puebla and referrals to the Fiscalía General de la República in cases with federal implications. High-profile controversies coincided with disputes during administrations tied to figures such as Martha Erika Alonso Hidalgo and Rafael Moreno Valle Rosas, and drew scrutiny from civil society organizations including Amnesty International and local NGOs advocating for victims’ rights. Criticisms have also focused on use-of-force incidents investigated alongside the National Human Rights Commission (Mexico), asset procurement processes reviewed by the State Audit Office of Puebla and transparency concerns raised in legislative sessions of the Congress of the State of Puebla.