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SANTIAGO.- National Police chief José A. Polanco Thursday morning ordered the demolition of the Community Service Police station, created and built by residents of the town Matanzas, to deal with the zone’s spate of crimes.

FILE. Adding to the woes of National Police chief Jose A. Polanco, the town of Matanzas, south of the city, created its own "Community Service Police" (PSC), to deal with the area’s rising crime.

Residents said their "police" is the only one of its kind operating in Dominican Republic, but has already been implemented in Colombia. It works independently of the National Police but controls crime in various adjacent communities.

Like any police force, the PSC’s “desk sergeant” receives and records complaints, to report to its commander, identified as ”lieutenant” Grismaldy Burgos.

Neighborhood associations pay a RD$2,000 monthly rent, donated by the communities which get the PSC’s service, Matanzas, Monte Adentro and Palo Amarillo among them.

The community however, doesn’t pay the PSC’s 39 active agents whose black uniform is a stark contrast to the National Police’s drab grey.

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COMMENTS
15 comment(s)
Written by: gmiller261, 11 Oct 2012 10:36 AM
From: United States


F...ing CLUELESS.

What an embarrassment,
Written by: elBuscoon, 11 Oct 2012 10:37 AM
From: Cuba, La Havana, Que Viva La Revolucion

Now we are talking, the people are taking things in their own hands.

My question is??

Who is going to pay the PSC??????
Written by: super, 11 Oct 2012 10:44 AM
From: United States
beautiful power to the people
Written by: RobertoJose, 11 Oct 2012 10:59 AM
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... ((You're blind to the fact that you're blind))
There has to be more than 1500 families to to protect and secure safety to. A right-off of $2,000 peso or .1% of the value of the property every month whichever is the lesser for a security tax while appointing a personnel office to do the screening of the hired patrol that will earn the equivalent of 1500USD or better, depending on performance.
Written by: generoso, 11 Oct 2012 2:52 PM
From: Dominican Republic, United States
That is one way to take control of our lives, and not depend on the discredited and corrupt police.
Written by: DaveB, 11 Oct 2012 3:12 PM
From: United States
Come on! You all know that it's only a matter of months before these volunteers start running their own police style protection rackets. Actual law enforcement officers may always be completely unknown in the Dominican Republic. Add to that the black uniforms, just like any banana republic death squad. There maybe some benefit, but this is not a long term solution.
Written by: RobertoJose, 11 Oct 2012 4:16 PM
From: United States, FREEPORT, Long Island.... ((You're blind to the fact that you're blind))
Dave, you know, with the right admin this can go a long way. The jews doit in NYC.
Written by: lovingit, 11 Oct 2012 4:34 PM
From: United States, Delaware
did everyone else here miss the fact the the chief said to demolish the place?

Rather than try to work with them, the Police are destroying them?

DaveB

"it's only a matter of months before these volunteers start running their own police style protection rackets"

I disagree if they are truly volunteers.
Written by: Atabey, 11 Oct 2012 4:46 PM
From: United States, NYC
It has worked for the early all volunteer Fire "departments"


Problem arises due to cross "border" actions. How far outside their town "own borders" will these volunteers pursue criminals?

But I like the idea behind this: local control and administration. Paid for by the people: in volunteer service work and Neighborhood associations pay outs. This teaches people that police services requires monetary payouts and to keep "taxes" low, volunteer work. But what about training? What happens if a volunteer gets hurt? Is incapacitated while performing his/her duties?

Many things still to be worked out. And of course, you have the TURF War with the established Mafia, National Police, to deal with.
Written by: VeronicaDR, 11 Oct 2012 5:34 PM
From: United States
If our communities paid their own police forces maybe we could force the corrupt ones out.Tell the National Police we pay our own police keep your corrupt ones someplace else.
Written by: RoyStone, 11 Oct 2012 7:58 PM
From: Australia
How long 'till the PSC taste corruption and become addicts? Sounds like the protection rackets during the American Prohibition Era.
Written by: jasfalon, 12 Oct 2012 6:37 AM
From: United States
Sinaloa Community Service Police??????
Written by: stillhere, 13 Oct 2012 7:45 PM
From: Dominican Republic
If run by the people for the people, this could be a good thing... And it sends a very loud message to the National police, that this community has had enough. The fact the NP are incapable of doing anything close to what their actual job is. "protect and serve the people".
Many things need to be worked out before this could work well and I just hope they take their time and not do a half assed job like the NP.
Written by: jojosnogood, 14 Oct 2012 8:12 PM
From: Dominican Republic
hy u guys know the other day they (the community )killed this guy who was attempting to rape a women by threatening to rape her daughter.killed in the street like a dog.i love it.knows thats justice
Written by: RoyStone, 14 Oct 2012 8:19 PM
From: Australia
Execution without trial? No corroborating evidence, just the testimony of zealous woman?

When the world becomes aware of Dominican lynch-mob mentality, say goodbye too the tourism industry!
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