P.R. Laws tit. 25, § 3131f

2019-02-20 00:00:00+00
§ 3131f. Police auxiliaries—Use of personal or assigned weapon

The following rules on the use of weapons shall be observed:

(a) The Puerto Rico Police Superintendent may authorize auxiliary police officers who hold a license to possess and carry firearms in effect to use their weapon in the performance of their duties. Auxiliary police officers shall submit a copy of a certificate of having approved training in the proper use and safe handling of firearms, as provided in subsection (e) of § 456a of this title, known as the “Puerto Rico Weapons Law”.

(b) The Puerto Rico Police may [with discretion] assign a weapon to auxiliary police officers who have been trained in the proper use and safe handling of firearms as established in the subsection (a) of this section. Furthermore, auxiliary police officers who carry their own firearm, as well as those who are assigned a firearm by the Agency shall comply with § 456d of this title.

(c) All auxiliary police officers who are assigned a firearm due to their responsibilities shall receive an annual training in the proper use and safe handling of firearms. They shall submit a certificate of the training received to the Superintendent through the Director of the Auxiliary Police. If no certificate is submitted, the Superintendent shall divest the auxiliary police officer of the assigned firearm.

(d) Auxiliary police officers who have been trained in the proper use and safe handling of firearms and have complied with the provisions of law are hereby authorized to use their firearms in the performance of their duties. The Superintendent shall issue a special Auxiliary Police Officer license to those citizens who comply with the Auxiliary Police Officer enlistment requirements and do not have a firearms license. Likewise, they may acquire ammunition for practice purposes in gun clubs, armories and target practice organizations, subject to the regulations thereof in effect [at] the Puerto Rico Police.

History —June 10, 1996, No. 53, added as § 38 on Sept. 23, 2004, No. 468, § 3.