Tijuana’s municipal oversight office has requested the suspension of two police officers accused of submitting fraudulent medical disability documents from the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Mexico’s public healthcare system. The officers allegedly used the forged paperwork to justify unexcused absences from duty.
Municipal Attorney Confirms Investigation
Teresita Balderas Beltrán, the municipal attorney for Tijuana, confirmed the investigation is active. She said her office is committed to ensuring that public servants act with integrity and follow the rules governing their positions.
The two officers submitted what appeared to be IMSS medical disability certificates, known in Mexico as “incapacidades.” These documents are issued by IMSS doctors to employees who cannot work due to illness or injury. They entitle the holder to paid leave. When the oversight office reviewed the documents, it flagged them as fraudulent.
Case Sent for Forensic Analysis
The case has been forwarded to Baja California’s State Attorney General’s office (FGE) for forensic document analysis. Experts there will examine the certificates to confirm whether they were altered or fabricated entirely. If the forgery is confirmed through forensic review, the officers could face criminal charges in addition to administrative penalties.
Under Mexican labor and administrative law, submitting forged government documents is a serious offense. Police officers found guilty of such misconduct can face permanent dismissal from the force. Criminal prosecution for document fraud carries additional penalties under Baja California’s penal code.
Accountability in Tijuana’s Police Force
Tijuana’s police department, one of the largest municipal forces in Mexico with thousands of sworn officers, has undergone years of reform efforts aimed at professionalization and anti-corruption measures. Internal oversight cases like this one are part of that broader push. The city’s Contraloría Municipal, or municipal comptroller’s office, handles administrative investigations into employee misconduct.
IMSS disability certificates are a common target for forgery across Mexico because they provide automatic justification for paid absences. Employers and government agencies have increasingly turned to forensic verification to catch fraudulent documents.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no formal charges have been filed against the two officers as of this report. Originally reported by Jornada BC.