Panama president fires top cop

Panama President Laurentino Cortizo has fired the director of the National Police, Gabriel Medina the Ministry of Public Security reported on Friday night, May 21.

“As of this date, Commissioner Gabriel Medina Delgado is removed from his post, and he is replaced by the current deputy director Rafael Álvarez,” a statement said.

Álvarez will be the director in charge until President Laurentino Cortizo appoints a new director.

Medina was removed a day after a video circulated on social media showing Panamanian police officers expressing support for their Colombian colleagues reported to have killed over 40  people and injured hundreds more in a brutal reaction to anti-government demonstrations.

According to some jurists and citizens, this action would violate the Constitution.

The video shows Panamanian police officers greeting and supporting their Colombian colleagues. “On behalf of the men and women who make up the National Police of Panama, we wish to extend to our colleagues from the National Police of Colombia, a message of solidarity in these difficult times our sister republic is going through,” says one of the three agents of the entity that take part in the video that lasts one minute and one second.

Medina took office on January 28, 2021, replacing Jorge Miranda.