San Cristóbal. – The President of the Republic,
Luis Abinader, led this Wednesday the graduation ceremony of the forty-eighth (XLVIII) promotion of cadets of the National Police, composed of 64 new officers, 53 male and 11 female, trained under the Transformation Model, focused on strengthening a modern, professional, transparent, and citizen-service-oriented police institution.
After completing their four-year studies in academic, ethical, and operational training, graduates become graduates in Police Sciences of the “Jose Rufino Reyes Y Siancas” promotion, being promoted to the rank of second lieutenant.
Upon his arrival at the esplanade of the Escuela para Cadetes Mayor General (r) José Félix Rafael Hermida González, President Abinader, supreme authority of the Armed Forces and the National Police, was received with police honors of style, in charge of a Battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Máximo Mayovanet Contreras Bueno.
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The keynote speech was delivered by the director of the “Mayor General José Félix Rafael Hermida González” School for Cadets, Colonel Julio Enmanuel Valenzuela Peña, who emphatically highlighted the decisive and constant support that President Luis Abinader has provided to the reform, modernization, and transformation of the National Police and emphasized that the president’s vision, his confidence in the process, and his permanent accompaniment have made it possible to strengthen training programs, renew institutional processes, and raise the ethical and professional standards with which future officers are prepared today.
Colonel Valenzuela Peña stated that thanks to the impetus of President Abinader, the school has evolved to respond to the current challenges of public security, incorporating new technologies, modern educational methods, and teaching focused on democratic values, human rights, and social responsibility. He added that this transformation has been decisive so that the graduates, graduates in Police Sciences and now second lieutenants, are prepared to provide a high-quality police service, as demanded by the citizenry.
During his intervention, he also highlighted that the promotion of 64 cadets, including two from the Republic of Panama, completed eight semesters of training, along with an internship in different police departments and emphasized that this year, in addition, the institution celebrated the first Fair in Police Sciences, an academic space where students presented research and projects, consolidating the new training model promoted under this administration.
The director also thanked the support of the Ministry of Interior and Police, the director general of the National Police and the Board of Directors of Educational Modernization, noting that all these initiatives strengthen police education within the framework of the reform promoted by the Government. He also acknowledged the academic support of the Police Institute of Higher Education (IPES) and the international cooperation of Colombia, Chile, Honduras and Panama.
Finally, he expressed his gratitude to the teachers, instructors, and administrative staff, and dedicated an emotional recognition to the cadets’ parents, before urging the new officers to exercise with honor, integrity, and commitment the uniform that distinguishes them today, after being sworn in by President Abinader.
The Head of State was accompanied by the Ministers of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Onofre Fernández; of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Franklin García Fermín; the Deputy Minister of Interior Security, Antonio Palma, representing the Minister of Interior and Police, Faride Raful; the Director General of the National Police, Major General Ramón Antonio Guzmán Peralta and the Deputy Director General of the institution, General Juan Hilario Guzmán Badia.
In the activity, the order of the day was read, the change of guard, the transfer of the flag guard, and the delivery of the academic cord, acts that firmly reflected the discipline, commitment, and solemnity of the graduation.
The religious invocation and blessing of the rings was carried out by police chaplain Nicolás Joel Villa Fañas, accompanied by Father Víctor Tavarez.
The ceremony included a posthumous tribute with a moment of silence to the late former police chief, Major General (r) José Félix Rafael Hermida González, a historical figure of the institution whose name honors the School for Cadets.
President Abinader swore in the new officers and led the ceremonial handover of sabers, a symbol of the institutional commitment assumed by the cadets as police officers.
Delivery of diplomas and recognitions
The Director General of the National Police, Major General Ramón Antonio Guzmán Peralta, presented the diplomas to the 64 graduates, with Kervin Lebrón Novas being in charge of receiving them on behalf of his classmates.
During the ceremony, cadets who excelled in their performance were also recognized. Kervin Lebrón Novas received the merits for “Honor”, “Knowledge”, and “Gift of Command”, while Heridania Pérez Polanco was distinguished as an outstanding graduate.
Other special awards included the “Police Spirit” merit, awarded to José Rafael Vásquez Corporán; the “Discipline” merit, received by Wanda Reyes Díaz; and the “Dignity” merit, given to Markin Rafael Montaño Acosta.
These recognitions highlight the dedication, effort, and excellence of the new officers who are now joining the National Police to serve the citizenry.
Emotional moment
The event was filled with emotion with the placing of the rings by the mothers of each of the cadets. The mothers of the cadets, all dressed in white, placed the rings on their sons, officially becoming cadets of the National Police, as a symbol of the achievement and sacrifice of their families.
The activity concluded with the traditional review, the interpretation of the National Police Anthem by the graduates, and the taking of the official photo of the promotion. Subsequently, President Abinader went to where the mothers of the graduates were to greet them personally, thank them for their dedication, and recognize the fundamental role they have played in the training of these new officers.
Also attending the event were the commanding generals of the Air Force, Major General Pilot Floreal Suárez Martínez; of the Dominican Republic Navy, Vice Admiral Juan Crisóstomo Martínez; the president of the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), Vice Admiral José Manuel Cabrera Ulloa; the Deputy Ministers of Defense for Military Affairs, Major General Miguel Ángel Rubio Báez; of Defense for Naval and Coastal Affairs, Vice Admiral Agustín Alberto Morillo Rodríguez; of Defense for Air and Space Affairs, Major General Aviation Technician Carlos Ramón Febrillet Rodríguez.
Similarly, the interim rector of the Instituto Policial de Educación Superior (IPES), Colonel Aida Valdez Liranzo; the director of the Escuela para Cadetes de la Policía Nacional, Colonel Julio Enmanuel Valenzuela Peña; the Executive Commissioner for Police Reform, Luis Ernesto García Hernández; the executive director of Police Educational Reform, Mu-Kien Adriana Sang Ben; the ambassador of Chile in the Dominican Republic, Axel Eduardo Cabrera; the infantry colonel of the Navy, José de Jesús Gómez Castellanas of the Republic of Colombia and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Honduras, José Antonio Lorenzana.
