P-au-P., July 2, 2024 [AlterPresse] — The bandits offered no resistance and fled during the forceful intervention, on the afternoon of July 1, of a police “task force” from the Grand Sud to regain control of the Gressier police station (about thirty km south of Port-au-Prince), previously occupied by the gangs, AlterPresse learned from the police.
The bandits had started to destroy the facade of the building when, under the new general director Rameau Normil, a police detachment composed of agents from the South, the South-East and Nippes (South-West) surprised them, police spokesperson Garry Desrosiers confirmed to AlterPresse.
The police opened fire and most of the criminals fled, while others were hit, the police continued. No injuries were reported among the Grand Sud officers, it assured.
During their escape, the bandits abandoned the tractor they were using to try to demolish the police station. The vehicle was recovered by the police.
The Gressier police station was once again stormed on Sunday, June 30, 2024, by gang members.
Currently the police station is under the control of the “task force”, which will remain on site, while arrangements are made for the repair of the damage caused by the criminals.
Shortly before the police intervention, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Carlos Hercule, had promised “an appropriate response from the police institution to the situation in Gressier.”
“As soon as possible, the police will take control of the situation,” he promised.
Several defenseless residents of Gressier were reportedly shot dead in their homes by the armed assailants and many others were forced to flee, according to harrowing accounts circulating on social media.
A public transport driver, providing the Jacmel/Port-au-Prince route, was shot dead, then his body burned by these armed bandits, early on Monday, July 1, 2024.
A phase of changes is underway at the two departmental police directorates of the West department, where Gressier is located, as well as the metropolitan area of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
On Saturday, June 29, 2024, Inspector General Smith Péyo proceeded to install the new departmental director of West-1, Divisional Commissioner Julbert Conseillant, as well as the new departmental director of West-2, Divisional Commissioner Xavier Séide.
Conseillant and Séide replace, respectively, the divisional commissioner Yvon Cantave and the principal commissioner Roger Lamartinière, both transferred to the office of the interim director general of the Pnh.
On the other hand, a new commander of the Haitian National Police Intervention Group (Gipnh/Swat), Divisional Commissioner Ronald Michel, was installed in his functions on July 1. He replaces in this position the Principal Commissioner Richardson Mersan, himself transferred to the Central Directorate of the Administrative Police (DCPA).
These measures come a few days after the installation of Rameau Normil as director general of the police institution, while Kenyan police officers are in Haiti to help the Haitian National Police (PNH) fight against armed gangs.
Currently, work is underway to harmonize the intervention methods of the police, the Haitian army and the Kenyan forces, said the Minister of Justice and Public Security.[apr 02/07/2024 06:00]
Source photo: Pnh
