Dominican Police boosts airport patrols on Washington’s warning

Santo Domingo.- Police chief Jose A. Polanco on Thursday announced the start of patrols with eight vehicles equipped with communications and security cameras to confront the assaults of travelers who exit the country’s airports.

Polanco said the precautionary measure also responds to U.S. ambassador Raul Yzaguirre’s complaint of the frequent robberies against travelers near Las Americas International Airport (AILA). The US State Dept. had also issued travelers’ warning on the rising assaults.

He said the first phase will be eight units of vehicles assigned to the airports AILA, La Isabela, Luperon, Maria Montez, Catey, and Arroyo Barril, Samana, Punta Cana, La Romana and Cibao.

He said the airports will be patrolled 24-7 with two police agents per car, equipped with communication with access to the entire police phone central.

Polanco said to improve safety for local and foreign tourists the vehicles will patrol the Colonial Zone and the area around Juan Carlos overpass, Santo Domingo East.