The General Prosecutor's Office has issued charges against police officer Fabio Gil Cuellar, assigned to the National Police in Quindío, for the alleged improper use of his official vest during the national strike on May 24, 2021. The incident took place in the Universidad del Quindío sector, where he reportedly turned the garment inside out to avoid identification amid disturbances. This conduct is viewed as a potential serious disciplinary offense.
The Provincial Prosecutor's Office of Instruction in Armenia has launched a disciplinary proceeding against Fabio Gil Cuellar, a patrol officer with the National Police in the Quindío department. The matter dates back to May 24, 2021, during the national strike mobilizations, when Gil Cuellar was part of a motorized reaction unit accompanying protests in the Universidad del Quindío sector.
According to the oversight body, the officer allegedly turned his official reflective vest inside out to hide his identification while involved in restoring public order amid the disturbances. This action reportedly went against directives from his superiors, which stressed transparent, honest, and loyal conduct from police personnel.
The Public Ministry provisionally classifies this behavior as a serious disciplinary fault, committed intentionally (dolo), for disregarding instructions aimed at proper fulfillment of police duties. The charge sheet seeks to establish whether Gil Cuellar breached his responsibilities in the tense social context of the 2021 strike, which sparked discussions on uniform usage and agent identification in public order operations.
This case underscores the need for accountability in security forces, particularly during crises like the 2021 protests.
