As groups press for change, National Police heads for revamp

Santo Domingo.- President Danilo Medina yesterday called a reformed and modernized National Police a "compelling need" and named a commission to expedite and conclude a bill to submit to Congress in the next few months.

The announcement comes in the heels of mounting pressure to reform the National Police, which human rights groups accuse of recent executions of suspects and fugitives.

Decree 650-12 establishes the Presidency’s National Police Reform Commission to formulate policy initiatives, regulations and a comprehensive administrative reform, aimed at ensure a model of public safety, “in keeping with the social principles of democracy and law which Dominican Republic has become.”

The Presidency’s Chief of Staff will head the Commission, and also includes the ministers of Interior and Police, and of Justice, and the National Police chief.