Outgoing National Police Director General Andres Modesto Cruz Cruz handed over command of the law enforcement agency to Major General Ernesto Rodriguez Garcia in Santo Domingo on Tuesday. The quiet transition took place behind closed doors at police headquarters, ending the shortest tenure for a Dominican police chief in 30 years.
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader had sworn in Rodriguez Garcia on Monday, setting the stage for Tuesday's swift administrative handover. Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful presided over the official transfer of authority inside the directorate's private office.
Unlike his formal inauguration six months ago, Cruz Cruz arrived at headquarters wearing a black suit jacket and tie rather than his official uniform. Maintaining a serious expression and eyes cast down, he completed the formal transfer of command within minutes before departing the premises.
Private command transfer at headquarters
The low-key event stood in sharp contrast to February 18, when Cruz Cruz assumed office following the departure of former director Ramon Antonio Guzman Peralta. That initial ceremony featured full protocol honours, formal speeches on the headquarters esplanade, public recognition for Guzman Peralta, and an audience of prominent figures.
Senior officers, generals, and colonels gathered at the Santo Domingo headquarters early Tuesday morning without the usual atmosphere of uncertainty, as Rodriguez Garcia's appointment had been announced the previous day. During the private ceremony, Cruz Cruz formally handed the institutional flag to Rodriguez Garcia as a symbol of continuity, commitment, and national service.
Shortly after Cruz Cruz left the building, police agents were seen carrying out a box containing the personal belongings of the retired major general. Officers then brought in separate belongings for the incoming administration of Rodriguez Garcia.
Farewell address on ethics and duty
In a final farewell message delivered to members of the police force, Cruz Cruz exhorted officers to preserve their moral and ethical standards. He instructed officers never to allow anyone to convince them that acting in accordance with the law represented a weakness or an error, emphasizing that maintaining integrity required strong character even if it cost an officer their position.
Cruz Cruz stated that the conduct of a public servant was measured especially during moments without supervision, asserting that doing the right thing when no one was looking was precisely what defined a true public servant. Downplaying the significance of personal leadership, the former director remarked that it did not matter who occupied the general directorate tomorrow, as the essential goal was to ensure institutional continuity and progress.
Reforms and strict adherence to the law
Addressing internal police governance, Cruz Cruz proposed creating career opportunities for officers who fulfilled their duties properly and recognizing those who honored the uniform. He stressed that good police officers must have possibilities to grow within the institution.
Conversely, he issued a stern warning to personnel who departed from legality, stating that the police force could not tolerate conduct that damaged institutional credibility. Following the brief ceremony, Cruz Cruz departed in honorable retirement status after completing his six-month tenure leading the nation's primary law enforcement agency.
