Haitian leaders have dismissed Frantz Elbé, the embattled director of Haiti’s National Police, following widespread criticism over his handling of gang violence and the protection of police officers.
A government official, speaking anonymously, informed on Saturday that former police chief Normil Rameau will return to lead the underfunded and ill-equipped department. A recent UN report highlighted that Haiti’s police force operates with only around 4,000 officers for a population exceeding 11 million. Rameau had been previously removed nearly four years ago under a different administration.
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Gang violence has surged in Haiti, resulting in over 2,500 casualties in the first three months of the year alone. Among the dead are nearly two dozen police officers, overwhelmed by gangs that control 80% of Port-au-Prince and possess superior weaponry. Recently, three officers from an anti-gang tactical unit were killed while patrolling in an armored vehicle, with a fourth officer still missing.
From 2015 to 2024, over 320 police officers have been killed, including 120 during Elbé’s tenure, according to the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights.
Rameau’s reappointment coincides with the formation of a new government led by a newly selected prime minister and Cabinet, supported by a transitional presidential council. Rameau previously served as police director-general under the late President Jovenel Moïse, who appointed him in August 2019. He was removed in November 2020 after Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe criticized his performance amid escalating gang control.
Neither Rameau nor Elbé responded to requests for comment.
Haiti’s Office of Citizen Protection welcomed Rameau’s return and urged him to swiftly address gang activity and establish a security plan. It also called for investigations into the killings of citizens, including journalists, and the dramatic escape of over 4,500 prisoners in March after gangs attacked Haiti’s two largest prisons, an incident it blamed on Elbé and former justice and public security ministers.
Police unions have repeatedly demanded Elbé’s resignation and arrest, noting that gangs have attacked and burned at least 30 police stations recently. These attacks, which began on February 29, targeted critical state infrastructure and led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
A police union, SPNH-17, recently held a press conference to denounce the state of the department and lament the deaths of officers. “Look at these young men, hacked to death,” spokesman Garry Jean-Baptiste said, pointing to pictures of fallen officers. On the anniversary of the police department’s creation, the union criticized its stagnation due to “corruption and incompetence.”
Another union, SYNAPOHA, urged newly installed Prime Minister Garry Conille to prioritize strengthening the police department. Conille recently joined a police patrol, experiencing firsthand the challenges faced by officers.
Elbé was appointed head of Haiti’s National Police in October 2021, replacing Léon Charles. Under his leadership, at least 36 officers were killed in gang-related violence from January to mid-August last year, according to a U.N. report.
Despite international training and resources, Haiti’s National Police struggles with morale and operational challenges. The National Network for the Defense of Human Rights survey, which interviewed 132 officers, confirmed issues such as unpaid salaries, lack of healthcare, and insufficient training. It also highlighted the infiltration of gangs within the police force, contributing to its weakened state.
