Puerto Rico police veteran nominated as new chief

Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico's governor has nominated a 35-year police veteran to head the U.S. territory's troubled force.

Alejandro Garcia Padilla said Friday that retired Col. Jose Luis Caldero will serve as interim chief pending approval from the island's Senate for his permanent appointment.

The nomination comes days after Puerto Rico's previous police chief resigned for personal reasons just four months after being named.

Puerto Rico has the second-largest police force in the U.S. with more than 17,000 officers. It is currently undergoing a 10-year federally mandated reform after a 2011 report accused officers of illegal killings, corruption and civil rights violations.