21 Dominican police officers killed in 2024: six on active duty, 15 in violent incidents
At least 21 members of the Dominican National Police have lost their lives this year, according to a count by diariolibre.com. Six died on duty and 15 in various circumstances.
Twenty-one Dominican police officers killed so far this year
At least 21 members of the National Police of the Dominican Republic have died in 2024, according to a count published by diariolibre.com that combines official data and journalistic records. Of that total, six died while performing service duties—five in armed clashes and one in a traffic accident during patrol—and another 15 in violent incidents or accidents that occurred outside or outside the scope of active duty.
The most recent case is that of Sergeant Juan Isaac Espinal Jiménez, 35 years old, who died on 12 November during an operation by the Central Criminal Investigation Directorate (Dicrim) on Avenida Circunvalación Norte, Gurabo sector, in Santiago. According to the police account, officers were following members of a suspected criminal organisation when an armed clash occurred that also left three civilians dead. Espinal Jiménez had 13 years with the institution and leaves four children.
During the funeral honours, National Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira stated that 16 members of the institution had died so far this year, five of them whilst on duty. However, on 11 May, the then police director, Andrés Modesto Cruz Cruz, had reported eight officers killed in the line of duty. The differences between the two tallies have not been clarified with an official itemised list.
The six officers who fell on duty
Dary Daniel Andújar Pérez died on 22 March. The patrolman, 22 years old, was shot during an operation at Cinema Centro, on Avenida George Washington in Santo Domingo, where he was responding to an alert about an armed man threatening local employees.
Juan Tomás Charles Pein died on 27 April. The sergeant, assigned to Dicrim, was shot in the head whilst responding to a citizen report in the Cuneta de Máyiga sector, in Yamasá, Monte Plata province. The Police reported that the patrol came under fire from several armed men.
Adolfo Miguel Mella Brito died on 10 May in an armed clash in the La Joya sector, kilometre 14 of the Duarte motorway, in Santo Domingo Oeste. The operation involved preventive units, investigators from Dicrim and other security agencies; another officer and a civilian were also injured.
Michael Isaías Manzueta Pérez died on 22 August in a traffic accident on the La Otra Banda road, in Higüey, La Altagracia province. The patrolman, 22 years old, was on patrol duties on a motorcycle alongside another officer when he collided with a vehicle.
José Ramón Henríquez Mejía died on 22 October. The Dicrim sergeant was shot in the La Canela municipal district, in Santiago, during what preliminary investigations described as an intelligence operation that resulted in a collision with a motorcycle, an altercation and an exchange of gunfire. Two suspects were identified in connection with the incident, including an adolescent.
Juan Isaac Espinal Jiménez died on 12 November, as detailed in the section above.
Fifteen other members who died in various circumstances
The journalistic count by diariolibre.com additionally identifies nine officers—plus patrolman Juan Celestino Sena, posthumously honoured by the institution on 28 October—who lost their lives outside or outside the scope of active duty.
Joan Feliz Montero, sergeant, 31 years old, died on 4 January after being shot during a robbery that occurred the previous day in Bajos de Haina, San Cristóbal. He was travelling with his wife when he was intercepted; the attackers took his standard-issue firearm.
Carlitos Crispín Santana, second lieutenant, 49 years old, and member of Digesett, died on 6 April in a traffic accident on the Hato Mayor-El Seibo road when his motorcycle collided with a disabled truck.
Heikel Vicente Encarnación Ferreras, corporal, 33 years old, died on 23 May in a motorcycle accident in Tenares, Hermanas Mirabal province, while returning from his work shift.
Florangel Duarte Rodríguez, second lieutenant, was found dead on 5 July inside the police station in the El Ejido sector, Santiago. Authorities were preliminarily working on the hypothesis of suicide.
Algeny Montás García, officer, 30 years old, died in early August after being hospitalised for injuries sustained in a traffic accident in La Romana. The publications consulted do not specify whether he was on duty at the time of the crash.
Héctor Samuel Peña Ramírez, police officer, 23 years old, was found dead on 27 August in waters near La Pocita beach, in San Pedro de Macorís. The preliminary diagnosis established asphyxiation by immersion; he was off duty.
Yoel Martínez Vargas died on 3 October in a motorcycle accident in Sabaneta de Yásica, Puerto Plata, whilst heading to Gaspar Hernández to begin his duties.
Pedro Luis Guerrero Ibis, master sergeant, died on 18 October after being shot during a robbery at an establishment in the Higüero sector, Santo Domingo Norte. He was off duty and the attackers took his standard-issue firearm.
Leini Pérez Leyba, police officer and six months pregnant, died on 23 October along with four other people in a traffic accident on the Circunvalación of Santo Domingo. According to her family, she was heading to her place of work.
To these cases is added that of patrolman Juan Celestino Sena, included among the four officers honoured by the National Police on 28 October during the celebration of San Judas Tadeo, the institution's patron saint. Sena was posthumously recognised along with Adolfo Miguel Mella Brito, Dary Daniel Andújar Pérez and Juan Tomás Charles Pein.
Source: Google News DO — Crime