DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Major General Andrés Modesto Cruz, Police Minister Faride Raful and Former Police Director Ramón A. Guzman / Listín Diario

Major General Andrés Modesto Cruz Cruz in his first statements after assuming command of the National Police on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 spoke of his commitment to further depressing the country’s crime rates.

The director emphasized his firm commitment to protecting the nation’s best interests and stated that institutional reforms are already “tangible and perceptible”.

Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful highlighted during the swearing in ceremony that the new leadership inherits a strengthening security landscape, noting a significant reduction in the homicide rate to just 7.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Major General Cruz Cruz is not a newcomer to high-level strategy. Before this historic promotion, he...