Mazatlán police ban personal cell phone use in facilities

The municipal police in Mazatlán, Mexico, have implemented a ban on the personal use of cell phones within their facilities. This decision follows an incident where an officer responsible for monitoring security cameras was reportedly caught watching a World Cup soccer match during their shift.

A directive issued by Karla Mayret Villavicencio Toscano, Deputy Administrative Director of the Public Security Secretariat of Mazatlán, prohibits all personnel, regardless of rank, from using private cell phones on police premises. The communication was sent to all coordinators, department heads, and active personnel.

Under the new policy, cell phones may only be used for official matters, emergencies, or with explicit authorization from a direct supervisor. The directive clearly states that failure to comply with this new regulation will result in disciplinary sanctions.

This measure comes after an administrative investigation was launched into photographs circulating online, which appeared to show a police officer monitoring security cameras while watching a soccer game on a large screen in their office. The identity of the officer was not detailed in the reports.