US embassy cable - 05SANTODOMINGO471

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 SANTO DOMINGO 000471 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/EPSC, WHA/PA, PA/IGA, L/LEI, EB/CBA, 
EB/TPP/BTA, DS/IP/WHA; 
NSC FOR SHANNON AND MADISON; TREASURY FOR OASIA-LCARTER; 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD; 
USDOC FOR 4322/MAC/WH/CARIBBEAN/SCOTT SMITH 
USDOC FOR 3004/ITA/USFCS/ADVOCACY 
CENTER/PWILLIAMS,EHENDERSON; 
USDOC FOR 3134/ITA/USFCS/OIO/WH/DDEVITO,BARTHUR; 
DHS FOR CIS-CARLOS ITURREGUI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2010 
TAGS: CJAN, KJUS, SNAR, KCOR, PTER, EFIN, PGOV, PREL, BEXP, ASEC, DR 
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN INTERIOR MINISTER SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH 
U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT, CONSIDERS MOTOROLA BID 
 
Classified By: AMB Hans Hertell for Reason 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Dominican Interior Secretary Franklin 
Almeyda, meeting with the Ambassador, Embassy staff, and City 
of New York Police Department (NYPD) officials January 27, 
expressed his intention to work with the Embassy and U.S. 
police advisers to fight corruption and boost efficiency in 
the Dominican police.  Visiting NYPD Internal Affairs Chief 
Charles Campisi described seminars on discipline and 
integrity that the visitors were conducting for Dominican 
police managers and other training planned for February, 
March, and April.  The NYPD will soon post a "permanent 
liaison" officer here.  In a pull-aside with Almeyda, the 
Ambassador advocated Motorola's bid to export an emergency 
communications system to the Dominicans.  Another top 
official later told the DCM that, consistent with the new IMF 
agreement, the Dominican Government would not take on new 
external debt unless the related debt service had been 
included in the annual budget.  End summary. 
 
2. (U) State Secretary of Interior and Police of the 
Dominican Republic Dr. Franklin Almeyda met January 27 with 
City of New York Police Department (NYPD) Chief of Internal 
Affairs Charles Campisi, Deputy Inspector Patrick Gallagher 
of the NYPD Corruption Prevention Division, the Ambassador, 
and four other Embassy officers.  Almeyda was accompanied by 
Administrative Sub-Secretary of Interior and Police Will 
Lajara.  The NYPD officials were in Santo Domingo January 
25-28 to conduct seminars on integrity, discipline, and 
fighting corruption for senior and mid-level managers of the 
Dominican National Police (PN), Metropolitan Transport 
Authority (AMET - traffic police), National Anti-Drugs 
Directorate (DNCD), Tourist Police (POLITUR), and Directorate 
General of Migration.  The visitors held a press conference 
and paid a courtesy call on President Fernandez. 
 
Training by U.S. Police Forces 
------------------------------ 
 
3. (C) Almeyda characterized the 30,000-member National 
Police (PN) as a "deformed institution" rife with corruption 
and inefficiency.  He criticized Former President Mejia 
(2000-2004) for not providing an "optimal environment" for 
reform and said President Fernandez has a policy to 
"institutionalize the police."  In particular, Fernandez has 
instructed the police leadership to cultivate close relations 
with the NYPD and also seek assistance from police 
departments in New Jersey and Puerto Rico. 
 
4. (U) Almeyda expects to host a visit in February by an NYPD 
intelligence officer and in March by an NYPD counternarcotics 
expert.  Police in New Jersey have offered assistance in use 
of technology in criminal investigations.  Almeyda intends to 
highlight these endeavors in the media to build public 
support.  (Note:  According to Avila, the February visit will 
coincide with a meeting here on police intelligence, 
involving Chilean, Spanish, Dominican, New York, and New 
Jersey police officers.  We requested an invitation for 
Embassy officers.  Chief Campisi later told the press that 
another NYPD visit in April would address how to deal with 
youth gangs.  End note.) 
 
5. (SBU) Chief Campisi said that NY Police Commissioner 
Raymond Kelly plans to send a "permanent liaison" officer to 
Santo Domingo to exchange information and coordinate criminal 
investigations.  The NYPD already has such liaison persons in 
European, Middle Eastern, and other countries, Campisi noted. 
 The NYPD is in process of selecting a candidate for the 
position in the Dominican Republic.  Campisi emphasized that 
the liaison officer would "work very closely" with the 
Embassy.  He later told the press that the liaison would be 
attached to the State Secretariat of Interior and Police. 
 
 
U.S. Government Assistance to Police 
------------------------------------ 
 
6. (SBU) The Ambassador pledged the Embassy's complete 
cooperation.  He gave a precis of U.S. Government assistance 
to the police since 2002, including strengthening the 
curriculum at the police academies, offering training and 
consultation by international experts, providing computers, 
supporting the drafting of new laws, training judicial 
personnel, and cooperating with the PN on investigations of 
international crime, trafficking in persons, contraband, and 
terrorism.  Almeyda acknowledged the importance of these 
projects and said he would work to ensure appropriate 
followup and continuity.  He expressed a desire for closer 
relations between his secretariat and the Embassy and 
designated Sub-Secretary Lajara as the regular point of 
contact. 
 
Upgrading Emergency Communications 
---------------------------------- 
 
7. (C) In a pull-aside with Interior Secretary Almeyda, the 
Ambassador advocated favorable consideration of a bid by U.S. 
firm Motorola to supply the PN an integrated emergency 
communications network with a command and control center. 
The system would cost US $28 million, including U.S. exports 
worth at least $18 million.  The Ambassador briefed Almeyda 
on the advanced technology and other long-term advantages of 
the Motorola system, in comparison with a competing, slightly 
less expensive offer by a non-U.S. supplier.  He also pointed 
out the risk that non-U.S. firms may resort to corrupt 
practices in attempts to undercut American bidders, who must 
comply with U.S. law prohibiting such abuses.  Almeyda 
undertook to consult with PN Chief Manuel de Jesus Perez 
Sanchez on the matter and inform us of any decision.  (Note: 
On January 26 Perez Sanchez told Embassy officers that he 
supported Motorola's proposal.  End note.) 
 
8. (C) Technical Secretary of the Presidency Temistocles 
Montas told the DCM on January 28 that his office would have 
to review such a proposal, that financial constraints would 
require any new projects not in the current budget to be 
postponed until 2006, and that the government would not take 
on any new debt this year.  DCM summarized the advantages of 
the Motorola bid and proposed that, whenever the project is 
considered, the government thoroughly evaluate the superior 
Motorola technology rather than base a decision solely on 
price or financing terms. 
 
Followup Meeting at Embassy 
--------------------------- 
 
9. (SBU) On January 28, NYPD Chief Campisi, Deputy Inspector 
Gallagher, Dominican Sub-Secretary Lajara, and Ambassador 
Avila of the Dominican UN delegation were briefed at the 
Embassy by RSO, Legal Attache, Narcotics Affairs, DEA, and 
DHS/Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and ECOPOL.  USG 
officers sought close coordination with the NYPD and other 
U.S. local or state police, requested that the Embassy 
receive advance notice of official visits, and reminded the 
visitors that any effort by U.S. police to track down wanted 
fugitives in the Dominican Republic must be coordinated with 
the Assistant U.S. Attorney and the Embassy.  The NYPD 
officials concurred. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
 
10. (C) The Ambassador's meeting re-established the 
relationship between the Embassy and the Interior 
Secretariat, which had deteriorated under Almeyda's 
 
SIPDIS 
predecessor.  Almeyda's appointment last August strengthened 
ethical standards, and he seems serious about modernizing the 
police.  Embassy will use the renewed contacts to advance 
U.S. Government objectives and to see that operational 
cooperation with U.S. big city police forces is consonant 
with U.S. goals. 
HERTELL