Former police chief becomes first Dominican general to request retirement

Santo Domingo.- President Danilo Medina on Saturday carried out what has been rumored for months; retiring the largest number of senior military and police officers in one fell swoop, including José A. Sanz Jiminian, who became the country’s first general officer in recent history to so request it.

By Executive decree, Medina placed three police major generals, six brigadier generals and 64 colonels on retirement, and promoted four brigadier generals to major general, and 40 colonels to one-star generals.

In addition to Sanz, former Police chiefs Rafael G. Guzman Fermin, and Henry A. Peralta Jiménez were also placed on retirement.

The total 38 senior police and military officers placed on retirement also make the group the largest to be returned to civilian life ever.

Of the retired generals, 9 are from the Police National and the remaining 29 from the Armed Forces.

The executive order cuts the number of active generals in the National Police to 44, and to 112 in the military.

Sanz, who served in the U.S. Army with one tour in Germany during the Vietnam War, had revealed to DT on Thursday that he had requested his early retirement and stated his willingness to write op-ed articles for the publication.

He said he has served during 38 years in the National Police, where upon reaching 40 on active duty, retirement is mandatory.