Officer killed by gangs as Haitian police death count hits 25 in 2024

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Haitian National Police (PNH) is mourning the loss of Officer Dieuné Pierre-Louis, who was fatally shot Monday during a chase in downtown Delmas — a northeast suburb of Port-au-Prince — involving a vehicle with several heavily armed individuals. Another officer was injured in the confrontation and has been in stable condition, the reports say. 

The ongoing violence continues to claim the lives of law enforcement officers as gangs spread terror, notably in the Haitian capital and its environs, despite announced police operations aimed at reclaiming territories lost to gang control.

Pierre-Louis, a member of the 18th promotion of the police force, was assigned to the Directorate of Traffic and Road Police (DCPR). His death brings the number of Haitian police officers killed by gunfire in 2024 to 25, highlighting an alarming rise in violence. Last year,  34 police officers were killed, and 22 were wounded in gang-related acts.

According to Lionel Lazarre, the deputy spokesperson for the PNH, the incident began on Monday morning when Officer Pierre-Louis and his colleagues set up a checkpoint on Rue Garoux Guinou in Delmas 33. The officers saw a group of suspected individuals arriving in a white minibus and ordered the driver to stop for inspection. The driver refused and continued driving, escalating the situation.

The police pursued the vehicle from Delmas 33 to Delmas 19, near an outdoor public market. At this intersection, the occupants of the minibus opened fire on the pursuing officers before fleeing. Pierre-Louis was fatally shot, and the injured officer was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

This tragedy within the police force occurred just two days after Edgar Gardy Leblanc Fils, president of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), advocated for strengthening security forces during Kenyan President William Ruto’s visit to Haiti.

Within the last 30 days, five police officers have been killed by gunfire in Haiti. Pierre-Louis was the latest victim, following Officer Dorcé Scudéry, a member of the 32nd SWAT promotion, who died from gunshot wounds during an operation in Gressier, about 13 miles southwest of downtown Port-au-Prince. His death was partly due to the lack of air transport for medical evacuation to hospitals in the capital city.

Gangs persist, support stalls amidst lack of equipment

Gangs continue to terrorize the Haitian people, showing no signs of retreat despite efforts by specialized police units to counter them. Even with 426 personnel from the Kenya-led Multinational Support and Security (MSS) mission working alongside Haitian forces, the situation remains dire, exacerbated by logistical and financial challenges.

“The collaboration between the MSS forces, the Haitian Armed Forces, and the national police in ongoing operations is yielding results,” said Leblanc at a  joint press conference with Ruto on Sept. 21. “We must strengthen operations by increasing personnel and equipment, enabling the mission to achieve its objectives and allowing the state to manage the country’s security post-support.”

Meanwhile, the overall climate of insecurity continues to escalate. UN reports indicate that 3,902 people were killed or injured in Haiti during the first half of 2024. Additionally, over four million Haitians face food insecurity, worsened by gang violence. 

The Haitian police struggle to restore security, presenting a major challenge for the new transition government running the nation for over 100 days.

Some observers, concerned about the deteriorating security situation, advocate for strengthening Haiti’s police and armed forces to combat gangs. Political scientist Didier Bénel urges authorities to adopt both short and long-term strategies for the police and armed forces, involving projects that provide equipment, materials, and ongoing training to enhance their effectiveness.

“Currently, the multinational mission is not looking promising, especially with difficulties in securing the $600 million needed for the mission,” Bénel said. “Under these conditions, with troubled leadership and a struggling mission, it falls to the population to pressure authorities to prioritize their well-being and restore stability.”

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