Police Commissioner Responds to Extortion Concerns

WhatsApp Line Established to Report Harassment, Victims Urged to Report Cases

By Salvador Dominguez and Jerry Jones

(Editor’s note: You can read an extended version of this story with additional interviews and more information at www.outandaboutpv.com)

After an outcry on social media over police extortion of nationals and tourists, Puerto Vallarta Police officials urge those affected to report any LGBTQ+ harassment, including police insisting on being given money. Additionally, police said they were meeting with some local LGBTQ+ leaders to discuss the situation.

It’s not a new issue in Puerto Vallarta and has been reported on before. In November 2018, O&APV reported on a community meeting that was held to address similar concerns. That meeting was held at the request of the Colectivo Vallarta LGBT group, with specific concerns of an increase in LGBT couples’ harassment.

But new leadership may help change previous police practices.

In October 2021 a new government took control in Puerto Vallarta. O&APV reached out to Profe Luis Michel’s office (Michel is the Presidente Municipal de Puerto Vallarta) and spoke to Police Commissioner Luis Fernando Muñoz Ortega, Director of Citizen Security, Policia Municipal Puerto Vallarta. Commissioner Muñoz was appointed as the new police commissioner in Oct. 2021.

The police commissioner said that officials had not had any recent registered complaints, and needed those affected by such acts to file a complaint so that an investigation could take place. Nationals or foregin tourists are urged to make this report in person at the Security Police Station, on their website, or through a QR code that was created for this type of situation. The QR code opens up a chat on WhatsApp to report the cases. The WhatsApp account is labeled, Comisaría de Seguridad Ciudadana Puerto Vallarta Jalisco, and you are urged to add it to your contact list in case it’s needed.

Commissioner Muñoz said that the actions carried out when a robbery involves a member of the police is to channel those

“On the part of the Vallarta Police, we are not allowing any type of abuse of this nature, unfortunately the foreign tourist who has been affected does not report it, probably out of fear, ‘’ he said. “They then return to their place of origin and from there he makes it public in social media. In those cases it does not allow us to have a basis or complaint from those affected to be able to open an investigation.”

The cases reported on social media all have a similar theme - they were intercepted by Vallarta police patrols asking them what they were doing at that time on the street, and then began to inspect them wanting to verify if they were carrying drugs or were intoxicated. After finding nothing from them, they demand a certain amount of money or else they will arrest them, using their authority to extort tourists.

The recommendations made by the Vallarta Police Station when one of these events occurs is to immediately file a complaint, through the Police Station in person or on the website; the QR Code, or dial 911 or 089 - all these reports are anonymous and the most important thing is that they are made when the events occur and before leaving Vallarta. Be prepared to report the date, place and time of the event and, as far as possible, the name and characteristics that identify the police units or individuals involved.

To make complaints in person: Camino Viejo al Canton 101 Col, Santo Domingo, 48280

Via WhatsApp: +52-322-242-6982

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