Haiti’s National Police adds 739 officers to a depleted force

By Dieugo André & Juhakenson Blaise 

PORT-AU-PRINCE-  Haiti National Police (PNH) has bolstered its ranks by adding 739 new officers, including 213 women, during a graduation ceremony held at the National Police Academy in Pétion-Ville on January 10. The officers, part of the 34th promotion, join the force at a critical time as the PNH intensifies efforts against heavily armed gangs vying for control of neighborhoods, rural areas, and major urban centers.

Since 2017, police recruitment efforts in Haiti have struggled amid the ongoing gang crisis, with accusations of police and government officials enabling gang activity and a rise in officer deaths at the hands of gang members. While the Haitian government has not released official numbers on the size of the police force in recent years, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) reported that, as of Dec. 31, 2023, the force included 13,196 officers, of which 1,588 were women. This marked a decline from the previous year, as 1,663 officers left the force in 2023, including 48 killed and 75 injured in clashes with gangs. A January 2024 report emphasized the PNH’s struggle against entrenched gang violence, citing its limited staffing and resources. The current size of the police force in 2025 is still estimated to be well below the international standard of 2.2 officers per 1,000 residents as Haiti’s population nears 12 million.

“The PNH will neither back down nor stop. It will continue to move forward and fight to neutralize all gangs, wherever they are on national territory,” the Director General of police, Rameau Normil said. “Never forget that the PNH, its officers, and its members are the sworn enemies of the bandits. Your only ally on the ground is the Haitian people.”

Among them, 500 will be trained to join specialized units engaged in combating gangs across the country, in collaboration with the multinational mission. The additional training would follow the five months of intensive training at the National Police Academy, in Pétion-Ville that all graduating officers received. The cohort recorded three dropouts, six dismissals, and one death due to respiratory complications at the hospital.

Several high-ranking state officials attended the graduation ceremony including the President of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), Leslie Voltaire, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, the high command of the Haitian Armed Forces, the Director General of the PNH, Normil, as well as Godfrey Otunge, head of the Multinational Security Support Mission, diplomatic representatives, and the head of The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), Maria Isabel Salvador.

A symbol of hope amid enduring crisis

During the ceremony, state officials emphasized the new graduates’ role as a symbol of hope for the institution and the nation. The officers’ deployment will focus on increasing the number of police officers deployed in the field, which has been instrumental in recent operations. These reinforcements are critical as Haiti braces for continued violence and instability.

The new officers celebrated their achievements with salutes and choreographed steps on the academy’s courtyard.

Leslie Voltaire, President of the Transition Council, acknowledged the widespread violence in his address. He commended the new officers for their commitment and emphasized the urgency of their mission to serve and protect the population while confronting gangs to restore security.

“We call on these new police leaders to immediately engage in the fight against illegally armed groups in the country. This way, in 2025, every citizen will be able to move freely, allowing for the constitutional referendum and general elections,” Voltaire stated. “You are now part of an elite tasked with protecting the women, men, children, state officials, and assets of this country.”

Multinational Mission’s Role in Police Support

The graduation ceremony also spotlighted the collaboration between the PNH and the MSS, which was deployed following a UN Security Council vote in October 2023. Despite its promise of 2,500 personnel, the MSS remains underfunded and understaffed, with only 572 members. Recent reinforcements from Guatemala and El Salvador have bolstered its presence, but operational challenges persist.

Kenyan police officers, comprising the bulk of the MSS’s current contingent, have worked alongside the PNH to address gang activities. 

As Haiti’s security landscape evolves, integrating these 750 officers—backed by the MSS and ongoing international support—offers a glimmer of hope. Yet, with gang violence entrenched and the PNH’s resources stretched thin, the road to stability remains fraught with challenges.

Below are video and photos of the graduation ceremony.

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