A journalist asked President Luis Abinader during the Monday, 23 October 2023 press conference when the country would have a new chief of the Police. The official two-year term of incumbent Eduardo Alberto Then has expired. The President did not have a date, and said he would respond later.
El Caribe highlights that the current organic law of the National Police Law 590-, and its preceding Law
96-04, both establish the two-year term.
Yet, El Caribe feature says there have been chiefs that have lasted up to three years. Five of 11 chiefs of the police lasted more than two years and a half.
The director of the Police is appointed by Presidential decree.
El Caribe reports that from 1999 to date, 11 generals have been in charge of the law enforcement body. These are the major generals of the National Police, Pedro de Jesús Candelier Tejada, Jaime Marte Martínez, Manuel de Jesús Pérez Sánchez, Bernardo Santana Páez, Guillermo Guzmán Fermín, José Armando Polanco Gómez, Manuel Elpidio Castro Castillo, Nelson Peguero Paredes, Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, Edward Ramón Sánchez González and Eduardo Alberto Then (current).
In that period mentioned, the director of the Police who has lasted the longest was Rafael Guillermo Guzmán Fermín, who served three years, from 17 August 2007 to 16 August 2010.
El Caribe shares the terms served by police chiefs since 1999:
From 27 February 1999 to 8 January 2002, Major General Pedro De Jesús Candelier Tejada commanded the National Police for two years and eleven months.
Major General Jaime Marte Martínez commanded, who remained in office for two years and seven months, from 8 January 2002 to 16 August 2004.
Major General Manuel de Jesús Pérez Sánchez lasted one year, from 16 August 2004 to 17 August 2005.
Lieutenant General Bernardo Santana Páez followed for two years and ten days from 7 August 2005 to 17 August 2007.
Major General Rafael Guillermo Guzmán Fermín took over the position on 17 August 2007 and lasted until 16 August 2010 (three years).
Major General José Armando Polanco Gómez commanded the National Police for two years and ten months, from 16 August 2010 to 15 June 2013.
Major General Manuel Elpidio Castro Castillo managed the uniform for two years and almost two months, from 25 June 2013 to 3 August 2015.
Major General Nelson Peguero Paredes directed the National Police, with a duration of two years and twenty-seven days, from 3 August 2015 to 30 August 2017.
Major General Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte remained in the position for two years and eleven months, from 30 August 2017 to 16 August 2020.
Major General Edward Sánchez González was named director general of the National Police on 16 August 2020. He was replaced on 17 October 2021 by current chief Eduardo Alberto Then.
The Organic Law 590-16 of the National Police in its article 23 states: “The appointment of the Director General of the National Police is made for a maximum period of two (2) years, without prejudice to the power of the President of the Republic to order his early separation.”
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
Noticias SIN
26 October 2023