Bogotá Police Vehicle Crisis: 40% Out of Service, Impacting Public Safety

Bogotá's Police Face Vehicle Crisis: Over 40% of Patrol Cars Out of Service Bogotá, Colombia – A critical shortage of operational police vehicles is impacting public safety in Colombia's capital. Councilwoman Diana Diago recently revealed that more than 40% of the city's police fleet is currently out of service. This alarming statistic has raised concerns about the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts. "More than 40% of patrol cars are not in service in four specific stations," Diago stated in an interview with Noticias Caracol. She highlighted the problems in Teusaquillo, Tunuelito, Candelaria, and San Cristobal. She attributed the shortage to a combination of factors, including vehicles undergoing maintenance, lacking proper documentation, or being damaged in accidents. A data table provided by the Secretariat of Security shows that of 2936 police vehicles, 1204 are active, 347 are out of service, and 437 lack documentation. This emphasizes the scale of the problem. The city's Personero Distrital, Andrés Castro, confirmed the issue during an interview. He stated that the police force is actively working to address the situation to ensure the safety of Bogotá's citizens. In the last few days, the police have received 214 new motorcycles and three patrol cars to improve their operational capacity. While the situation is concerning, the proactive steps taken by the police to address the vehicle shortage offer a glimmer of hope for improved public safety in Bogotá.