Close to half of Mexicali’s Police Department patrol cars are old or have constant mechanic issues, according to media reports.

La Voz newspaper reported that the police department has 292 patrol cars for urban and rural areas, of which 122 are old models that have issues, leaving only 106 in perfect condition.

Other 92 patrol cars are considered in regular conditions and 89 are models between eight and 15 years old.

The newspaper recalled that since 2018 the Mexican administration has reduced law enforcement funds.

Back in 2016, the city was allocated over 100 million pesos or about $5 million for public safety issues.

The next year the city recorded a 30 percent reduction of those funds and monies reduced by half in 2019. In the last two years the Mexican government has not disbursed funds for law enforcement.

In 2020, the city received about $1 million for equipment and several hundred thousands more for police evaluations and communications.