Dominican government’s security plan eyes police shakeup

Santo Domingo.- President Danilo Medina on Wednesday announced the Dominican government’s Comprehensive Security Plan, stressing a police reform, a modernized 911 emergency service and the regularization of over half a million motorcycles,

Medina’s strategy, disclosed in a ceremony at the National Palace, will focus on the persecution and prevention of crime, said Gustavo Montalvo, Presidency Minister and coordinator of the committee in charge of the plan.

He said the police reform includes the reincorporation to patrols of around 6,000 agents who now provide service unrelated to their duties.

This measure, Montalvo said, will include agents assigned to diplomats, a number he affirmed is higher than any other country.

The National Police reform includes yearly polygraph testing for each of its members, as a measure to identify "any misconduct."

A modernized 911 emergency service was again cited as a government priority, which Montalvo said will restart in Greater Santo Domingo later this year, with the gradual installation of around 1,000 security cams nationwide in the next two years.

On crime prevention the official said the program "live in peace" will forge social initiatives, a strategy to socially integrate deported citizens to the work force and inclusion in education programs to promote values.

Also planned is an ambitious project to regularize motorcycles by providing more than 662,000 license plates starting April 1st in Greater Santo Domingo, Santiago, San Cristobal and La Altagracia.

The programs were explained in detail by police chief Jose Armando Polanco, Justice minister Francisco Dominguez, Metropolitan Transit Authority (Amet) director Juan G. Brown, National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) president Rolando Rosado, and Interior and Police minister Ramon Fadul.

Strengthened public prosecutor

Domínguez announced a process to strengthen the Justice Ministry with a new criminal activity technology system, which crosses the data of defendants, more Conflict Resolution centers, specialized domestic violence units, as well as a modernized Forensics Institute (INACIF).