Unit 5: Law and order in Dominican Republic

During the American Occupation in Santo Domingo from 1916 to 1924, the American troops created a military institution denominated like "National Guard", body military that worked like agency of defense and police, laying the bases of the present National Police. The congress Dominican Republic issued Law 14 of November 5, 1930, which allowed the leader of the Dominican Republic to appoint and remove local police chiefs. Within six years after the Dominican Republic had several municipal police officers. The National Police Force was not officially formed until March 2, 1936, with the congressional approval of Decree no. 1523. When a new national police force emerged, Colonel Miguel A. Román was appointed head of the national police.