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The chief of the Miami Police, Manuel A. Morales, sent a direct message to the Cuban police forces, urging them to prioritize the well-being of the community and to stand with the population.
In statements to CubaNet, he asserted that "change is coming" and that the officials on the Island are facing a decisive moment.
"Let’s give a brief message here to the police in Cuba. If you haven’t heard, find out that the police in Venezuela are laying down their arms and joining the people in demanding freedom. The officers in Iran have lowered their weapons and united with the people in asking for freedom," Morales stated at the beginning of his speech.
"Now it's your turn, before it's too late," he stated.
The official emphasized that, in his opinion, there are police officers in Cuba who are aware of the moral conflicts they face on a daily basis.
"In Cuba, there are police officers who, deep down in their hearts, know that what they are doing is wrong, and they try every day to balance that moral compass that tells them: 'I am here to serve the community, but the government demands this of me and the regime demands that of me,'" he expressed.
Morales, the son of Cubans, described a reality marked by internal tensions between the calling to serve and the demands of the state apparatus.
According to him, there are those who abuse their power, while others try to remain "a little bit more in the middle," attempting to reconcile both pressures. For him, identifying those who seek a balance point is key to any change.
In his message, the head of the Miami Police emphasized that the process of transformation is inevitable: "Change is coming. Whether the government wants it or not, change is coming."
In that context, he urged the agents that, in the event of a possible intervention by the United States, they should "do what is right" and prioritize "the well-being of the community and the people over the desires of the regime."
"Well then, I look forward to seeing you. I hope to see you very soon under a new flag of a free Cuba. God bless you," Morales concluded.
His intervention was broadcast alongside images of repressive actions carried out by police and members of the Ministry of the Interior in Cuba, as well as excerpts from statements by Miguel Díaz-Canel in which he characterizes the public protests as acts of vandalism and attempts to destabilize public order, despite the videos showcasing popular demands, particularly related to power outages.
Morales' words are part of a series of statements that the police chief has maintained since at least last year.
In April of last year, in an interview with CubaNet, he stated that the collapse of the regime could begin with an act of courage from the police officers themselves, whom he deemed potentially capable of becoming the driving force for democratic change on the Island.
On that occasion, he drew parallels with historical authoritarian regimes and emphasized that, although the police have been used as a tool of control, they can also be the starting point for transformation.
"The police play a key role in any society. If a police officer in Cuba today looks within themselves and recognizes that what they are doing is not right, and decides to change, that can inspire others," he said.
For him, a single gesture can trigger a chain reaction that leads to a broader break within the structures of power. If the police distance themselves from repression, the military could follow suit, as no oppressive system can sustain itself without the support of its coercive forces.
The officer has also defended the community policing model as an alternative to the repressive approach.
Under this framework, the police not only fulfill security functions but also act as a bridge between the government and the citizens, fostering trust and closeness with the community. Morales believes that this model should be fundamental for a future police restructuring in Cuba.
From his position at the helm of a body of over 1,300 officers in Miami, he also noted that the Cuban-American composition of his department could play a role in the training of new generations of Cuban police officers.
"60% of our officers are Latino and the majority are Cuban Americans. I believe we would be the perfect department to train a new police force in Cuba," he commented in earlier statements.
Morales has also referred to the so-called "Lucifer effect," a psychological study that shows how authoritarian environments can corrupt individual behaviors, even in people with a strong ethical foundation.
In the Cuban context, it is argued that many police officers have been trained within a system of repression, but a change in consciousness can quickly alter the dynamics.
"Change is not achieved through force; it is achieved through reflection and awareness," he has insisted.
For the police chief, an officer who decides to prioritize the protection of the people over repression could become the spark of a new phase, not just politically, but also humanely, for Cuba.
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