President Danilo Medina is planning changes to the Police reform bill that was sent to the Senate on Friday 17 May, as reported in Listin Diario. The bill is expected to be returned to the Executive Branch where changes will be incorporated prior to its review by the legislators.
The bill in the Senate proposes moving the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) to the Attorney General Office and that the chief of the Police, to be named “director general” should be appointed by the President of the Republic from a shortlist of five of the generals with the longest service in the institution. It establishes that police chiefs must retire at the end of their three-year term. The bill also says that a university degree is requirement for being chosen to head the police.
Recently the Dominican Alliance Against Corruption (Adocco) challenged statements by the Ministry of Interior and Police that the Police reform bill that was sent to Congress had been discussed with the civil society. Adocco president Julio Cesar de la Rosa Tiburcio issued a statement saying that the project was essentially conceived by the Presidency of the Republic, Ministry of Interior & Police, Attorney General Office and the Chief of the Police. De la Rosa said: “In these discussions only some organizations participated, since from the start they were exclusive, presenting a reform bill that does not respond to society, which is demanding a radical change in the institution.”
The bill is part of several measures announced by the Medina administration to fight crime. In an interview during a visit to the Alfa y Omega printing press owned by the late Customs director Miguel Cocco yesterday, Monday 20 May, the President said that the effects of the Comprehensive Citizen Security Plan would begin being felt at the end of the year because of the complexity of the plan. He told journalists that surveillance cameras will need to be tendered and would need to be compatible with the planned surveillance centers.
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2013/5/20/481377/Adocco-rechaza-reforma-policial-fuera-consensuada