Shortly after being sworn into office by President Fern?ndez, the new National Police (PN) Chief, Major General Pedro de Jes?s Candelier Tejada, declared that he was "fed up" with reports of PN patrols that seek money from drivers and he would take drastic steps to get rid of the practice. "We are fed up with seeing a patrolman, a police officer with the Highway Patrol, taking money. This stops as of now." He said that all members of the PN’s Highway and Road Patrol Department passing through the Police Academy would undergo psychological evaluations to see if he or she was suitable for such work. While generally welcoming the declaration of intent, most Dominicans are adopting a "wait and see" attitude. Candelier Tejada’s immediate predecessor, Sanz Jimini?n, also declared war on this practice when he took office. Although all credit him with greatly improving the situation, the practice was not eliminated. The new police chief, even before sitting down on his new desk, suspended all present patrol officers, sending them to the Police Academy in Hatillo for evaluations.
