public safety

Extra police officers hit the streets

Due to a sharp upturn in crime recently, more police officers will be out on the streets looking for those who are being naughty, and not nice, during the holidays.

The operation is being called “El Vigilante,” and it is focusing on Panama City and surrounding areas. The operation will include 300 of the 337 recent graduates of the police academy, as well as officers from the Aeronaval Service.

The additional personnel will be used to increase patrols around areas that have experienced an increase in robberies, particularly around commercial establishments.

Members of the Institutional Protection Service have also been assigned to patrol certain parts of central Panama City in an effort to curb criminal activity, which traditionally increases at this time of year.

In addition to the extra manpower, the department has also cancelled all vacation time for the month, ensuring that as many officers as possible are on duty. Officers are also eligible for fewer days off during the week.

The department has also assigned administrative officials to active duty for the month, with some of those administrators coming from the Directorate of Police Investigation, while officials with the department's Service Support Group have been assigned to patrol shopping centers.

Eliseo Aguirre, who is in charge of the operation, said that since the beginning of the month, sweeps have been carried out in San Felipe, El Chorrillo, Santa Ana and Curundú.

He added, however, that the department needs the help of the community if it is to have a significant impact on the crime rate.