Seven more Harley Davidson motorcycles were purchased by the police without tender at US$17,000 each. These will join the 14 other motorcycles of the same type, which are part of the “Safe Barrio” project in Capotillo. Also purchased were four double-cabin pickup trucks, according to Diario Libre. The Interior and Police Minister Franklin Almeyda said that a tender will be called for the purchase of more than 250 vehicles that will be added to the Democratic Security Plan. These vehicles will be used in the northern parts of the National District, especially Las Canitas, Gualey and Simon Bolivar. Pilot programs are being planned for 12 barrios in the National District.
Listin Diario adds that the pickup trucks were purchased at US$25,000 each. According to Almeyda Rancier, the money invested in the purchase of the vehicles did not require the purchase to be made with a tender, as it did not represent a large amount. The vehicles were delivered to the Chief of Police Bernardo Santana Paez in the presence of Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito, and the Ministers of Public Works and Public Health, Freddy Perez and Bautisto Rojas Gomez, respectively. The latter are members of the Democratic Security Plan follow-up commission. Almeyda Rancier also reported that 21 SUVs, fully equipped for patrol duty, are in Customs and will be delivered to the Police once they are released. Fifteen of those vehicles have been purchased through the US Agency for International Development (AID) program which requires tenders.