Tweets lead to arrest of amorous cop in Mérida

Social media is putting Mexico`s police under new scrutiny. The local flat feet, long accustomed to casual days of hanging out and maybe picking up a few bribes, are now having their languorous ways posted for all the world to see.

Just yesterday (September 12, 2012) a cop in Mérida, the capital of Yucatán, was photographed outside the local bus station hugging and kissing a lady friend.

And parked on the yellow line, too!

The pictures were posted to Twitter, including a tag to the governor`s account, whereupon the officer not only lost his job, but was also arrested.

The tweet was sent by ``@toyito22``, who added a wry comment about how the officer with the State Police (Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Estatal) was safeguarding public order.

 An investigation in process

The officer, whose cruiser's ID number was clearly displayed in the photograph, had been assigned to patrol the south end of the city. In the picture he was also illegally parked, though that is hardly news unique to Mexico.

It was the speed and the harshness of the response that was notable. The Yucatán governor, Ivonne Ortega Pacheco, announced last night via her official Twitter account that the local lothario had not only been found – he had also been arrested.

Via Twitter...The governor is not amused

(TE Wilson is the author of Mezcalero, a Detective Sánchez novel.)

Twitter: @TimothyEWilson

Email: lapoliticaeslapolitica [at] gmail [dot] com

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