Haitian leaders on Saturday ousted Frantz Elbé, the director of the Haitian National Police, who was in trouble after months of criticism that he was not doing enough to protect officers attacked by gangs.
Former Haitian police chief Normil Rameau, who was also dismissed nearly four years ago under another administration, will once again take charge of this underfunded and poorly equipped department which has only some 4,000 agents on duty in a country of more than 11 million inhabitants.
More than 2,500 people have been killed or injured in Haiti in the first three months of the year as gang violence continues to rise.
Among those killed were nearly twenty police officers, overwhelmed by gangs that control 80% of Port-au-Prince, who are better equipped and have more powerful weapons. The most recent killings targeted three officers from a newly created anti-gang tactical unit who were patrolling in an armored vehicle. A fourth agent remains missing.
Mr. Rameau’s appointment comes as a newly selected prime minister and cabinet take the reins of Haiti’s government with a transitional presidential council at their side.
Mr. Rameau previously served as director general of police under assassinated former President Jovenel Moïse, who appointed him in August 2019. He was ousted as police chief in November 2020 after Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe accused him of being incompetent and failing to deliver results at a time when gangs were taking over more territory.
Neither Mr. Rameau nor Mr. Elbé immediately responded to requests for comment.
A director criticized
Haitian police unions have repeatedly called for the resignation and arrest of Mr. Elbé, noting that gangs have attacked and burned at least 30 police stations and sub-stations in recent months as part of in a series of attacks that began on February 29 and targeted important state infrastructure and led to the eventual resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
On Wednesday, the police union SPNH-17 held a press conference to condemn the state of the department and lament the officers killed.
“Look at these young men, killed with axes,” said union spokesperson Garry Jean-Baptiste, pointing behind him to rows of photos depicting officers killed on duty.
The union also released a statement on the day Haiti celebrated the creation of its police service.
“The Haitian National Police are 29 years old, but they still can’t walk […] it has not grown because corruption and incompetence have held it hostage,” he said.
At the same time, another police union, SYNAPOHA, this week called on new Prime Minister Garry Conille to make strengthening the department a priority.
Mr. Conille participated in a patrol with police on June 2, donning a bulletproof vest and helmet as he entered an armored vehicle. SNPH-17 hoped that the Prime Minister would notice during the patrol that the country had no leadership and that the criminals had too much control.
“The prime minister must understand the need to have another team at the top,” the union said.
Mr. Elbé was appointed chief of the Haitian National Police in October 2021, replacing Léon Charles.
Last year, under Mr Elbé, at least 36 officers were killed in gang-related violence between January and mid-August, according to a UN report.
The international community has provided training and other resources to help strengthen Haiti’s national police, which is also awaiting the deployment of a U.N.-backed police force from Kenya.