Pedro Toledo
Encyclopedia
Pedro Toledo Dávila is a former Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police Department. He is known for serving as such for two non-consecutive terms, under two different administrations (1993-2000 under Pedro Rosselló
; 2005-2009 under Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
). Toledo is also a former attorney and FBI agent.
, Puerto Rico
. He lived with his mother in Juana Díaz
, until his father returned from World War II
. After that, they moved to Ponce, where Toledo attended elementary and secondary school, graduating in 1961.
Toledo enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
where he obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering
in 1966. Toledo then went to work for the NASA
at the Kennedy Space Center
in Florida
, as an air conditioning systems engineer for the Saturn V
and Apollo missions.
, where he worked until November 1969. That year, he was transferred to Miami, Florida
.
In 1971, Toledo was moved to Puerto Rico, where he began legal studies at the Interamerican University Law School
. After three years, Toledo graduated with a Juris Doctor
. During his time with the FBI, Toledo also worked as legal adviser. He also attended the Bureau's technology and polygraph schools, as well as hostage negotiator's school. He eventually joined a specialized national team of negotiators called the Critical Incident Negotiation Team.
Toledo was the main negotiator in 1987 during the Atlanta Prison Riots
. The riots were caused by a group of Cuban inmates who refused to be repatriated to Cuba after the Mariel boatlift
. The negotiation process took two weeks, and nearly collapsed when U.S. supervisors withdrew Toledo’s team to reestablish negotiations in English with a translator. Toledo said about the incident "Six hours after they did that there was a near riot. Inmates broke the phone used for negotiations and demanded that we, the Latinos, be called back," Toledo remembered. "They had to do it. Once we were back, the inmates, in a show of good will, immediately freed some hostages."
In 1991, Toledo also participated in negotiations during riots at the federal prison in Talladega, Alabama
. During the riots, over nine hostages were taken by 121 Cuban detainees. The Cubans, who had arrived in the U.S. during the boatlift, were trying to avoid deportation, and refused to negotiate. Toledo was asked to buy time so that SWAT
teams could effectively prepare for a raid.
was elected Governor of Puerto Rico
during the elections
, he selected Toledo to be his Police Superintendent. Toledo, who was a known supporter of Rossello's party (PNP) became known for his firm stance against crime, which he dubbed "Mano Dura contra el Crimen" (roughly translated as "Strong arm against crime").
Some of Toledo's initiatives against drugs and violence involved the collaboration with the National Guard
and the occupation of public housing projects (or "caseríos"). During his tenure, murders in the island went from its highest peak in recent years (995 in 1994) to its lowest (690 in 2000).
In 2000, elected Governor Sila María Calderón
appointed Miguel Pereira as Superintendent of the police. Toledo announced his retirement from the force, and dedicated to maintain a small law practice in association with one of his sons.
(from the PPD
) surprisingly appointed Toledo as Superintendent. Despite his opposing political beliefs, Toledo agreed to return.
Pedro Rosselló
Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...
; 2005-2009 under Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the eighth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law,...
). Toledo is also a former attorney and FBI agent.
Early years and studies
Pedro Toledo Dávila was born in 1943 to Pedro Toledo and Gladys Dávila at the Dr. Pila Hospital in PoncePonce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. He lived with his mother in Juana Díaz
Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico
Juana Díaz is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Jayuya, Ciales, Orocovis and Villalba; east of Ponce; and west of Coamo and Santa Isabel and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Juana Díaz is spread over 12 wards and Juana Diaz Pueblo...
, until his father returned from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After that, they moved to Ponce, where Toledo attended elementary and secondary school, graduating in 1961.
Toledo enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez or Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez in Spanish , is a land-grant, sea-grant, space-grant state university located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico...
where he obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
in 1966. Toledo then went to work for the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
at the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, as an air conditioning systems engineer for the Saturn V
Saturn V
The Saturn V was an American human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA's Apollo and Skylab programs from 1967 until 1973. A multistage liquid-fueled launch vehicle, NASA launched 13 Saturn Vs from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida with no loss of crew or payload...
and Apollo missions.
Career with the FBI
In 1968, Toledo was accepted into the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Toledo has said "I had finished the career in engineering but there are a lot of lawyers in my family, and I believed that [by joining the FBI] I could indirectly enter the field of law." As part of the FBI, he was assigned as an agent to Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, where he worked until November 1969. That year, he was transferred to Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
.
In 1971, Toledo was moved to Puerto Rico, where he began legal studies at the Interamerican University Law School
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
The Inter American University of Puerto Rico —or Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in Spanish, and often referred as "Inter"— is a private university system in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1912 in San German, Puerto Rico. The University has campuses in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas,...
. After three years, Toledo graduated with a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
. During his time with the FBI, Toledo also worked as legal adviser. He also attended the Bureau's technology and polygraph schools, as well as hostage negotiator's school. He eventually joined a specialized national team of negotiators called the Critical Incident Negotiation Team.
Toledo was the main negotiator in 1987 during the Atlanta Prison Riots
Atlanta Prison Riots
The Atlanta Prison Riots were a series of riots that occurred at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in November of 1987. The riot coincided with a similar riot at the Federal prison in Oakdale, Louisiana.-Cause:On November 10, 1987, the U.S...
. The riots were caused by a group of Cuban inmates who refused to be repatriated to Cuba after the Mariel boatlift
Mariel boatlift
The Mariel boatlift was a mass emigration of Cubans who departed from Cuba's Mariel Harbor for the United States between April 15 and October 31, 1980....
. The negotiation process took two weeks, and nearly collapsed when U.S. supervisors withdrew Toledo’s team to reestablish negotiations in English with a translator. Toledo said about the incident "Six hours after they did that there was a near riot. Inmates broke the phone used for negotiations and demanded that we, the Latinos, be called back," Toledo remembered. "They had to do it. Once we were back, the inmates, in a show of good will, immediately freed some hostages."
In 1991, Toledo also participated in negotiations during riots at the federal prison in Talladega, Alabama
Talladega, Alabama
Talladega is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 15,143. The city is the county seat of Talladega County. Talladega is approximately 50 miles east of Birmingham, Alabama....
. During the riots, over nine hostages were taken by 121 Cuban detainees. The Cubans, who had arrived in the U.S. during the boatlift, were trying to avoid deportation, and refused to negotiate. Toledo was asked to buy time so that SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
teams could effectively prepare for a raid.
First terms (1993-2001)
After his time with the FBI, Toledo became supervisor of the Violent Crimes division for the Puerto Rico Police Department. When Pedro RossellóPedro Rosselló
Pedro Juan Rosselló González, M.D., , is a Puerto Rican physician and politician who served as the sixth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1993 to 2001...
was elected Governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
during the elections
Puerto Rican general election, 1992
General elections were held in Puerto Rico on 3 November 1992. Pedro Rosselló of the New Progressive Party was elected Governor, whilst the PNP also won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Voter turnout was between 82% and 84%.-Governor:-Resident Commissioner:-House...
, he selected Toledo to be his Police Superintendent. Toledo, who was a known supporter of Rossello's party (PNP) became known for his firm stance against crime, which he dubbed "Mano Dura contra el Crimen" (roughly translated as "Strong arm against crime").
Some of Toledo's initiatives against drugs and violence involved the collaboration with the National Guard
Puerto Rico National Guard
The Puerto Rico National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components with a total authorized strength of 10,000 soldiers and airmen. The Constitution of the United States specifically...
and the occupation of public housing projects (or "caseríos"). During his tenure, murders in the island went from its highest peak in recent years (995 in 1994) to its lowest (690 in 2000).
In 2000, elected Governor Sila María Calderón
Sila María Calderón
Sila María Calderón Serra is a Puerto Rican politician and businesswoman who served as the seventh Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2005. She is the first and, to date, only woman elected to that office...
appointed Miguel Pereira as Superintendent of the police. Toledo announced his retirement from the force, and dedicated to maintain a small law practice in association with one of his sons.
Second term (2005-2009)
In 2005, elected Governor Aníbal Acevedo ViláAníbal Acevedo Vilá
Aníbal Salvador Acevedo Vilá is a Puerto Rican politician and lawyer. He served as the eighth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Commonwealth of the United States, from 2005 to 2009. He is a Harvard University alumnus and a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Law,...
(from the PPD
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
) surprisingly appointed Toledo as Superintendent. Despite his opposing political beliefs, Toledo agreed to return.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans