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PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti’s leaders on Saturday ousted the embattled chief of the Haitian National Police, Frantz Elbé, after months of criticism that he had not done enough to protect officers who had come under attack by gangs.
Haiti’s former police chief, Normil Rameau, who was also fired nearly four years ago under another government, will once again take charge of an underfunded and ill-equipped department that has only about 4,000 officers on duty at a time in a country of more than 11 million residents.
Gang violence in Haiti has continued to increase, with more than 2,500 people killed and injured in the first three months of this year.
Dozens of police officers murdered
Among the dead were nearly two dozen police officers, who were overwhelmed by better-armed and better-armed gangs that control 80 percent of Port-au-Prince.
The latest killings targeted three officers from the newly formed anti-gang tactical unit who were on patrol in an armored vehicle. A fourth remains missing.
Ramo’s appointment comes as a newly elected prime minister and cabinet take over Haiti’s government with the support of the Transitional Presidential Council.
Rameau previously served as police chief during the government of assassinated former President Jovenel Moise, who appointed him in August 2019.
Prior to that, he was in charge of the detective department. He was ousted as police chief in November 2020 after Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe accused him of incompetence and failure to achieve results as gangs gained control of more territory.
Neither Lamo nor Elbe immediately responded to messages seeking comment.
The union’s position
Haiti’s police union has repeatedly called for Herbé’s resignation and arrest, noting that criminal gangs have attacked and burned at least 30 police stations and precincts in recent months as part of a series of attacks that began on Feb. 29 and targeted critical state infrastructure and led to the eventual resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
On Wednesday, a police union called SPNH-17 held a news conference to denounce the state of the department and express regret for the slain officers.
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