Hatian National Police - Haiti Observer Blog

Port-au-Prince police in search for hotelier, Evinx Daniel, have not yet apprehended him. But they have arrested several people in connection with the case. A police spokesperson made the announcement on Thursday, January, 23, 2014.

Daniel, a very successful businessman, not only is the owner of Dan's Creek Hotel, bordering the oceanfront in Port-Salut, a western town; he is also in the export business, operating out of Port-Salut also. Daniel's hotel empire has attracted many tourists from abroad, helping Haiti's tourist industry stay afloat.

Daniel was last sighted on January 5, 2014, according to police reports. They discovered his car parked at a gas station just outside Gonaives, a port city in Ouest Department. It was driven to a Port-au-Prince courthouse and is being thoroughly inspected for clues.

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The Haitian National Police (HNP) was established in 1995, and since then has developed a reputation for brutality and class bias. Delmas, a Port-au-Prince neighborhood, is an example of police brutality residents complain about. One of the places where tent cities still house 2010 earthquake survivors, local police earlier this year clubbed two men, causing the death of one, in an encampment.

In response to the growing problem of police mistrust by Haitians, the U.S. State Department has initiated a community policing program. The goal is to engender trust between the community and police. The reason is to raise the apprehension rate and decrease crime.

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President Michel Martelly is probably nostalgic and homesick for referring to Haiti national Police as the armed wing of the government during a speech at the graduation ceremony of the 24th promotion of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) last Friday. As usual, the opposition was quick to take issue with that and denounce the comment. Many people believe that this is another example where Michel Martelly has been trying to politicize the Police force in Haiti.

The Haitian President also took the opportunity to praised the Police for their contribution in the overall improvement in security in the country, compared to the situation in previous years.
Is this for real? Do you think Haiti National Police is politicized? Has Martelly been able to use the force to oppress others on political basis?

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Vanel Lacroix, an ex-police chief, engaged in a gun battle with Léogâne police officers on September 12, 2013. Lacroix was with escaped convict, Jerry Leconte, and Isma, an ex-police officer. Isma has had a bench warrant for his arrest on kidnapping and drug trafficking. Jerry Leconte took advantage of 2010's earthquake to make his escape from prison.

Lacroix is being jailed on suspicion of his connection in Serge Demosthene's death. Lacroix was Chief of Police in Petion-Ville, and it was on his watch Demosthenes underwent torture at the hands of officers the night he died.

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As per the announcement of Emmanuel Corvil, the Inspector of Police and the Chief of Service Staff from the National Police Academy, in accordance with the guidelines for recruitment that became effective from 1999, the Haitian government will recruit 1000 new police officers in the 2013-14 academic year. This appointment is a part of the planned program under the 'National Development Plan of Police (2012-2016)' to recruit 1000 new police officers every year.

Any aspiring candidate, regardless of gender, may submit own application for the post of "Police Officer" to any of the 16 commissariats within the country or at the departmental directorates of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) excepting the Department of Northwest in Port-de-Paix and Mole Saint-Nicolas.

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The former Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide is still a force in Haitian politic. If you were not convinced, the public demonstration from his supports today will probably change your mind.

According to the latest report, thousands of Jean Bertrand Aristide supporters took to the streets to support their leader as he appeared in public for the first time since returning from exile. The leader of the Fanmi Lavalas Party was summoned by Haitian Judge Yvickel Dabresil in regard to the unsolved assassination of the famous Haitian journalist Jean Léopold Dominique and his guard. Jean Bertrand Aristide was accompanied by several elected officials such as Moise Jean Charles, John Joel Joseph, MP Saurel hyacinth and others.

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The Haitian Coast Guard which is the Marine Unit of the National Police Unit of Haiti is one of the best things the country has ever had in a very long time. It is the only reason why there are eventful and success in what the country is trying to achieve as they play a very big role in their work. Among the many things the police unit has been able to achieve is a good and functional coast guard service unit that is very much functional and efficient at what it does.

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The Haitian National Police (HNP) is an independent agency force that was originally organized under the directorship of the Haitian Army during Jean-Claude Duvalier's rule. By 1995 the Haitian Army was dissolved; and the HNP became an independent policing agency.
Once Haiti had retired its army by 1995, Port-au-Prince and rural areas were left without adequate police protection. What happened next has been the single biggest factor to prevent the HNP from being an effective policing body. Former military officers (MO) of the Haitian Army infiltrated and have since influenced the politics of Haiti National Police, particularly in the area of human rights, an essential part of modern law enforcement.

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The Haitian National Police, founded in 1995 and the official law enforcement agency of Haiti, also acts as the country's military force. Half a dozen countries, including the U.S, have trained nearly 9,000 police officers in current law enforcement methods. Training includes crowd management, firearms use, and dignitary protection.

When dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier ruled, Haiti's police force was an arm of the Haitian army, 14,000 recruitments strong. In 1987, Haiti amended its Constitution and mandated Haitian police were to act as peacekeepers, law enforcers, protectors, and arresters of lawbreakers. Problems preventing the police from fulfilling these duties were a mixture of military bullying, internal warfare, and lack of civilian oversight. The 1987 Constitution suggested an independent police force be created as part of the Ministry of Justice. But this reform has never happened.

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The Haitian Coast Guard (HCG), a division of the Haitian National Police, operates as a police department at sea, while performing coast guard operations. Two decades after the Haitian Navy became obsolete; the HCG was organized with two small defense boats and an American yacht. Over the years, the U.S. leased the HCG several sea vessels. When any of the vessels were destroyed in conflict, the U.S. sent replacements.

During Duvalier's reign in 1970, newer vessels, leased by the U.S. to Haitian Coast Guard, experienced revolts aboard ship, and bombed the Presidential Palace in the capital of Port-au-Prince. Forced to retreat to Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. reclaimed the vessels, but then returned them to Haiti, much to the elation of Duvalier. He designated the HCG as the Haitian Navy and tried to develop it into a more formidable operation, but failed. The U.S. continued leasing vessels to the HCG as well as reclaiming boats with expired leases.

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