The news and presentation last Monday of the new uniforms and gadgets that the agents of the National Police Starting next year, during LA Semanal with the press, it is information that is on everyone’s lips creating a series of comments, opinions and speculations for and against.
Although information circulates at all levels of communication (social networks, influencers, communicators, journalists and opinion leaders) and also colloquially in the neighborhoods, the questions asked are: Will behavior change with the new uniforms? Will crime decrease with the new reform?
Citizenship
The videos and photographs of the police models with the new uniforms were on everyone’s lips. In President Abinader’s preferred setting, the commissioner for police reform, Luis García, and Colonel Nandy Reyes Santos explained everything related to the new suits.
However, for citizens, skepticism is the best pattern to follow since, as the saying goes, “even if a monkey dresses in silk, he stays a monkey,” referring to the fact that nothing is done by changing an entity’s clothing if it does not their way of thinking, current, their culture is changed, and even less so are the procedures and protocols that govern it.
“It has been more than three years since the Government began the transformation of the Police and it is known that it has increased its salary twice, but crime and the lack of patrolling remain the same in the streets, and I do not believe that a new uniform helps improve the problem that exists in that institution,” said Juan Antonio Cabrera Trejo, taxi driver.
Bad news
When the recent news of the most important criminal events of recent months is reviewed, in all of these, police agents will be main protagonists. In recent months, “exchanges of gunfire” have become the most viable way to combat crime.
Recent events
The two accused of the murder of Paula Santana, Joaquín Alexander Hidalgo Marte (Alex), 38 years old, and Alex Elvin Cruz Díaz (Chuki), 23, and who were in prison accused of sexual rape, have already been released, because There was no evidence against them, however both reported that they were tortured by the Police during interrogations.
You may be interested in reading: The National Police will debut a new uniform next year
Last Tuesday in October, the spokesperson for the National Police, Colonel Diego Pesqueira, offered statements regarding the murder of young Wendel Alejandro Almonte Veloz, 28 years old, which occurred on Charles de Gaulle Avenue, Santo Domingo Este, and indicated that he was the perpetrator. to the sergeant major of that institution to Rafael Laureano de los Santos (Cabito).
Could the uniform change the police culture and way of proceeding?
New uniform
The new uniform that the police will have, presented by the Government as a “zero prototype” (since it can be modified at suggestion) is part of the reform, modernization and transformation process of that entity and will have a series of very innovative and technological particularities to better communication and identification with citizens.
For some time now, although not for all agents, body cameras have been part of the uniforms. Now these new outfits will have a QR code with the agent’s general data, such as name, rank, and team they belong to.
They will also include blood typology, to facilitate a quick response in case a blood transfusion is needed after an accident or confrontation. Each uniform will also have a unique badge number to prevent identity theft.
The new uniform has a multipurpose belt with the capacity to have about 10 accessories, such as bullet magazines, electric guns, pepper spray, batons, flashlights, handcuffs, knives, gloves, among others. In addition, the redesign of the uniform includes the entity’s new motto, “Protect and serve.”
“Police” will be the word that will be read on the back of the uniform as well as the cap that will also have the rank, with this word it will immediately differentiate itself from any other armed institution in the country. On the legs of the pants there are two reflective tape in the shape of a board with black and white colors that can be seen from a distance and at night.
Amount
The institution acquired a total of 69,145 digital sets (coat, pants and cap) including police pants for men and women, in a proportion of 57,145 and 12,000, respectively. In addition to police shirts (short and long sleeves) in the same proportion for both sexes.
Also purchased were 30,000 blue ties for men, 4,572 bowties for women of the same color, 518,585 pieces of underwear, 34,572 police caps and 30,048 pairs of black shoes for men and 4,524 pairs of shoes for women.
As accessories, kepis, hats, helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, balaclavas, scarves, among others, were also purchased for both sexes.
Background
A group of designers and fashion specialists chose the unique and flexible fabric for the uniforms, which is suitable for the climate and police work in a country like the Dominican Republic, and which also meets international standards.
Due to their characteristics, these designs were approved with uniforms of 10 police and security forces in Europe, South America and Central America so that they inspire confidence in citizens.
In numbers
1,053,987,817 pesos cost the new uniforms used by National Police (PN) agents from 2025, as part of the institutional reform implemented by the Government.
