Police Superintendent Changes Leadership of Reform Office
Joseph González named Capt. José L. Rosa López as interim director after reassigning Cmdr. Habib Massari Díaz to the Bayamón police area.
File photoThe short version
- El Nuevo Día reports that Superintendent Joseph González confirmed Cmdr. Habib Massari Díaz will no longer lead the Office of Police Reform and has been assigned new responsibilities in the Bayamón police area
- El Vocero states Massari Díaz was relieved of his duties as director and reassigned to the Bayamón area
- Both outlets report that Capt. José L. Rosa López, current chief of staff, has been designated interim director of the reform office
- González told reporters the change was coordinated with the federal monitor and special master
Leadership Change at Reform Office
Puerto Rico Police Superintendent Joseph González confirmed a change in command at the Office of Police Reform. Cmdr. Habib Massari Díaz no longer directs the unit and has been reassigned to new responsibilities in the Bayamón police area. El Nuevo Día reported.
González designated Capt. José L. Rosa López, who currently serves as chief of staff and already supervised the office, as interim director to ensure continuity of ongoing work and projects. He said a permanent director will be announced in due course. The superintendent stated the decision responds to the sensitive and trust-based nature of the position's responsibilities. El Nuevo Día reported.
Also on PuertoRico.com: San Juan travel guide
What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Como parte de los ajustes administrativos y operacionales de la Policía de Puerto Rico, el comandante Habib Massari Díaz estará asumiendo nuevas responsabilidades en el Área Policiaca de Bayamón
Our translation: As part of the administrative and operational adjustments of the Puerto Rico Police, Cmdr. Habib Massari Díaz will be assuming new responsibilities in the Bayamón police area
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Nuevo Día. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Coordination With Federal Officials
González said the determination was properly coordinated and notified to the federal reform monitor, John Romero, and special master Alejandro del Carmen, both appointed by the federal court in San Juan. El Nuevo Día reported.
El Vocero reported that the police must inform the federal monitor and U.S. District Judge Francisco Besosa of changes to the office. The outlet also noted that, according to the organizational chart made public in July, Capt. Rosa López already supervises the reform office as chief of staff. El Vocero reported.
Where the sources differ
El Nuevo Día and El Vocero both report the reassignment of Cmdr. Habib Massari Díaz (spelled Habib in one outlet and Abid or Masari in the other) from the reform office and the interim appointment of Capt. José L. Rosa López. El Nuevo Día attributes direct statements to Superintendent Joseph González explaining the change as an administrative adjustment due to the sensitive nature of the role and confirms notification to federal monitor John Romero and special master Alejandro del Carmen. El Vocero reports the relief occurred and notes the obligation to inform the monitor and Judge Francisco Besosa, while providing background on Massari Díaz's prior service and the July organizational chart that already placed the office under Rosa López. The outlets differ on exact timing references and on whether the move constitutes a 'destitution' or a reassignment.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the exact date the change took effect, whether Massari Díaz's performance was cited as a factor, the specific new responsibilities he will have in Bayamón, or when a permanent director will be named. No details were provided on the status of ongoing reform projects or any reaction from federal monitors beyond the notification.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Cambian el mando de la Oficina de la Reforma de la Policía: esto explicó Joseph González
- Reporting Cambian el mando de la Oficina de la Reforma de la Policía: esto explicó Joseph González
- Reporting Destituyen al director de la Oficina Reforma de la Policía
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día and El Vocero both covered the leadership change at the Police Reform Office based on information from Superintendent Joseph González or police sources. Details on the reasons beyond administrative adjustments, the precise timeline, and next steps rest on the accounts provided to each outlet.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.