The Government of Colombia will give its full support to the Dominican Republic to strengthen the process of Reform, Transformation and Professionalization of the National Police, in order to turn it into a model entity, close to the citizens, and in accordance with the new times, in terms of facing delinquency and criminality.
The information was made known by the Colombian Minister of Defense, Diego Milano Aponte, at the end of the meeting held at the headquarters of that agency, in Bogota, with the Dominican mission headed by the Minister of the Interior, Jesús Vásquez Martínez, and the Director of the Police, Edward Sánchez.
The Dominican officials went to learn about the good practice of the Colombian police model, which constitutes a world reference.
The meeting was also attended by the deputy director general of the Colombian Police, Hoover Penilla Romero, and retired general Ricardo Restrepo, advisor to the Dominican government on the Integral Strategy for Citizen Security “My Safe Country”, which is currently being implemented by the Dominican authorities.
The other members of the Dominican delegation are the coordinator of the Working Group for the Transformation and Professionalization of the National Police, Servio Tulio Castaños Guzmán, and the Vice Minister of the Interior for Security, Jesús Féliz.
Likewise, President Luis Abinader’s advisor on Prison Security, Roberto Santana; the director of the Interior and Police Cabinet, Victor Benavides, and the head of Communications, Elvis Lima.
“We ratify, as expressed by President Duque, the willingness and disposition of the Government of Colombia to work together in cooperation, with the exchange of information and technical capabilities, to achieve support for the Police transformation process being developed by the Dominican authorities,” said Milano Aponte.
As part of the commitment undertaken, the Colombian official announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding for unity between the two countries in the fight against transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, as well as in the strengthening of the police forces of the two nations.