A new National Police rollout was officially launched on Monday, 2 June 2025 with 1,100 agents wearing cameras and with specialized community interaction training. The pilot program across 137 urban areas aims to transform and modernize public safety services across the Dominican Republic, with an initial focus on the National District and Santo Domingo.
The first areas slated for reinforced surveillance are Naco, the Colonial City, and Los Mina in Santo Domingo East. The initiative will later expand to Santiago, the country’s second largest city.
The program’s launch, led by President Luis Abinader, showcased a significant upgrade in police operations. New uniforms, body cameras, non-lethal weapons, and multi-purpose belts were unveiled, signaling a “before and after” moment for the institution.
Speaking on the occasion of the start of the pilot program, Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful said that the Dominican Republic is recognized as the safest country in the Caribbean and among the top in Latin America, thanks to the government’s ongoing efforts in police reform, professionalization of officers, and community involvement.
Raful emphasized, “We will continue on this path with humility, dedication, commitment, and above all, focusing on training,” highlighting the strengthening of the institution’s operational capacity.
Major General Ramón Antonio Guzmán Peralta, Director General of the Police, detailed the strategic deployment. In the National District, the program will cover 69 sectors within Operations Department C-1 and 15 sectors in C-9. In Santo Domingo Este, E-2 will see 45 sectors included. An additional 8 sectors in Santiago province will also implement the new model.
Guzmán Peralta emphasized the comprehensive equipping of officers. “They are equipped with modern and necessary tools such as standard issue pistols, electric pistols, shackles, pepper spray, and body cameras, in addition to the multi-purpose belt,” he stated. He added, “However, the most significant thing is not what they carry on their waist, but what they carry in their hearts.”
The new police uniform represents more than just an aesthetic change; it symbolizes a new institutional mindset, with a color designed to be more approachable to citizens and aligned with international standards. Each uniform features a QR code containing the officer’s general information, including name, rank, assigned unit, and blood type, enabling quick and transparent identification.
Officers selected for the pilot program underwent specialized training to implement “intelligent approaches” aimed at improving citizen interaction and reducing crime rates.
Luis E. García Hernández, Commissioner for Police Reform, noted that this pilot project is not a “finished product” and will be progressively adjusted based on feedback from both agents and the public.
The new model incorporates data analysis tools for crime and social conflicts to allow for more precise patrol planning. It also strengthens interoperability with the 911 System and enhances supervision and evaluation of police performance through results indicators, operational goals, and action protocols.
Furthermore, the initiative promotes active citizen participation through community working groups and collaboration with local authorities to co-create solutions for local security issues.
For the official launch of the pilot program, President Abinader was joined at the launch by prominent officials, including Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza, Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso, and Deputy Director of the Police General Juan H. Guzmán Badía.
Interior and Police Minister Faride Raful underscored that citizen security presents an ongoing challenge. Following the pilot project’s launch, President Abinader held a meeting with police and military commanders to discuss the citizen security plan.
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Policia Nacional
El Dia
3 June 2025