Dominican Republic: Police Killed at Least 37 People in September
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · SECURITY
Key Facts
- —The country The Dominican Republic, a Caribbean nation of about 11 million people that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. It has no death penalty.
- —Why it matters Deaths in what police call “exchanges of gunfire” have long been disputed by rights groups, who say many are executions.
- —What happened Diario Libre counted at least 37 such deaths between 6 and 27 September, 23 of them between 18 and 25 September.
- —Who is involved Police chief Ernesto Rodríguez García, in post since 17 August, told criminals on Sunday 27 September to surrender or stop offending.
- —What it means for you The new chief’s first weeks are setting the tone of Dominican policing, and the state’s own ombudsman is already objecting.
- —Still open Whether any of the September deaths will be independently investigated, and whether the government will respond.
Dominican police killings have surged this month. Diario Libre, a leading Santo Domingo daily, counted at least 37 people killed in September in incidents the National Police report as “exchanges of gunfire” with officers.
The count came a day after the new police chief warned criminals they had two paths: turn themselves in or stop offending. A leading rights group calls the deaths executions.
What the count shows
Diario Libre reported that 23 of the September deaths occurred between 18 and 25 September, the first on the sixth.
Santo Domingo province had the most deaths, with 11, followed by Santiago with six. The newspaper’s running tally since 5 January stands at 115, so September alone accounts for about a third of the year.
El Día, another national daily, reported eight such deaths in a single 24-hour stretch ending on Friday 25 September. Among them, police said, was a man they accused of shooting two officers.
The police chief’s warning
Major General Ernesto Rodríguez García took over the National Police in mid-August. He replaced Andrés Modesto Cruz Cruz, who was retired after six months in the job.
Addressing officers in the north-east on Sunday, he said offenders must choose to surrender or stop, “because otherwise we will come looking for you, no matter where you hide.” Both Diario Libre and Acento, a news site, reported the remarks.
He framed this as proportional use of force and promised to make offenders feel “the powerful arm of the state.” According to Diario Libre, police say those killed were wanted for crimes such as murder and robbery.
Ombudsman and rights groups object
The Ombudsman, Pablo Ulloa, a constitutional office that defends citizens against the state, said no one may be killed as a substitute for a court sentence. He noted the country has no death penalty.
Manuel María Mercedes, who heads the National Human Rights Commission, a non-governmental rights group, called the deaths a “massacre”, El Nuevo Diario reported. He said the group would take its complaint to international bodies.
The commission estimates about 4,500 such deaths between 2018 and 2025. That is its own figure, not an official record. Background: Dominican Republic Explained 2026 and Abinader Opens New Dominican Police Training Complex.
What Is Not Yet Known
- How each of the September deaths happened. The accounts so far come from police statements, and El Día noted they still have to be tested by investigations.
- Whether the government or prosecutors will open any independent review of the Dominican police killings.
- The final September figure. Diario Libre’s count, last updated on Monday 28 September, runs only to 27 September.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people did Dominican police kill in September?
Diario Libre counted at least 37 deaths in what police call exchanges of gunfire between 6 and 27 September, 23 of them between 18 and 25 September.
What did the new police chief say?
Ernesto Rodríguez García, in post since 17 August, told criminals on 27 September to surrender or stop offending.
Why are the killings disputed?
Rights groups say many of the gunfights are executions, and the state’s own ombudsman is already objecting; the Dominican Republic has no death penalty.
Will the deaths be investigated?
That is open. No independent investigation of the September deaths has been announced.
Sources: Diario Libre, 28 September 2026; Diario Libre, 27 September 2026; Acento, 27 September 2026; El Nuevo Diario, 27 September 2026; El Día, 25 September 2026.
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