Major General Ernesto Rodríguez García assumes leadership of the National Police with the challenge of consolidating the reform
Major General Ernesto Rodríguez García took office this Tuesday as the new Director General of the National Police, in compliance with Decree No. 558-26 promulgated by the President of the Republic, Luis Abinader. His administration will focus on one of the most ambitious pillars of the current government: the continuity and deepening of police reform, a historic process that seeks to transform the law enforcement body after more than nine decades.
Rodríguez García arrives at the position with a comprehensive vision of the institution, having previously served as inspector general of the Police since February of this year. This position allowed him to actively participate in the oversight structure and in the design of the institutional strengthening strategies that define the paradigm shift in the entity.
A technical profile with a track record
With a solid academic and operational background, the new director holds a law degree, graduating magna cum laude from the Universidad del Caribe, and possesses an extensive technical career in Police Sciences since entering the Cadet Academy in 1987. His experience includes outstanding work in citizen security management and prevention, having led the General Directorate of Traffic and Land Transportation Safety (Digesett) until the end of 2020.
Priorities: modernization and legal framework
One of the most important legislative challenges will be to resume the Organic Bill for the Modernization and Transformation of the National Police. The piece, which includes 315 articles to update current regulations, must be presented again before the National Congress in the Second Ordinary Legislature 2026-2027, after having expired in the previous legislative session.
In addition to the legal component, the Rodríguez García administration will follow up on technological modernization, driven by tools such as the “Sentinel Case” intelligence platform, designed to optimize criminological analysis. In this regard, the new director emphasized the importance of internal control mechanisms and constant collaboration with the Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding any irregularity in the exercise of police functions.
The Minister of Interior and Police, Faride Raful, reaffirmed the Dominican Government’s support for this new administration, highlighting the need for institutional progress to translate into tangible results that improve the perception of security for all citizens.
During the change of command ceremony, the outgoing Major General, Andrés Modesto Cruz Cruz, was recognized for his service and urged his successor to lead with firmness and strict adherence to the ethical principles that the institution demands in this new stage of transformation.
