December 31, 2005

The chief of police Major General Bernardo Santana Perez announced today that in the first 100 days of his office since the 20th of August to the 30 th of November, that 573 people died of gunshot wounds in the Dominican Republic.

There were 2,286 violent crimes and 1,339 criminal offences against property, which includes 889 car thefts, 134 robberies and 158 other offences.

Violent crime consisting of 573 homicides, 285 assult and battery 8 rapes and 2 kidnappings and 1,423 injuries.

64 deaths were reported  were caused by the police officials, security guards and military personnel.

The General also stated that out of the 573 homicides 529 were civil, 19 by the police and 14 by security guards.

The General also informed the public that he will not tolerate corruption. However he can not investigate corruption at higher levels.

Editors Comments: For a population of 8 million inhabitants in the Dominican Republic to have 573 murders by firearms extrapolates to 1,800 murders or homicides per year.

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