Dominican Republic: ICITAP-Supported National Police Advance Efforts to Manage Crises

On April 12, the Director General of the Dominican National Police approved a strategy to promote effective crisis management and foster police transformation. The Director General took this action, following the untimely shooting death of a couple, which has negatively impacted public trust and confidence in law enforcement has wavered and consequently adversely impacted police morale. The USAID-supported ICITAP mission assists the Dominican National Police (DNP) in developing a robust strategic communications platform and building a police culture that embraces human rights while recognizing the value of transparency. This initiative is designed to enhance clear communication and coordination between the DNP and the newly created Presidential committee that will oversee police transformation.  In addition, perception surveys will be administered to stakeholders, designed to measure and provide feedback on the effectiveness of the National Security Strategy, which includes DNP transformation and reform as an important feature. The implementation of this monumental initiative will not only serve as a template for navigating turbulent times, but as a model for future events. In the Dominican Republic, ICITAP works with the support of and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development.