Dominican Republic: ICITAP Assists National Police on Communication with Public to Respond to COVID-19 Crisis

On March 26, the ICITAP mission in Santo Domingo provided an update of its assistance to the Dominican National Police on communication concerning police culture and community relations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Director General of the Dominican National Police drafted official statements informing officers of preventive measures that have been initiated to ensure their safety and well-being, in addition to information from 19 Primary Health Care Units. Furthermore, the DNP have been tasked with enforcing national emergency measures issued by the Dominican government. A strategic communication narrative was drafted emphasizing the importance of complying with preventive measures through media, institutional social networks and relatives of police to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  A comprehensive and persistent review of global alerts and information is gathered and provided to the Director General so that informed decisions are made regarding vulnerable populations and evolving medical threats. In the DR, ICITAP works with the support of and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).