Police purge ranks

[NewsWhore]

The National Police have officially removed 51 officers from their ranks for crimes committed on the job. Hoy reports that 31 officers were from the police unit in Puerto Plata and 20 worked in Bonao. Both cities have been plagued by accusations of collusion with drug trafficking networks. During yesterday's proceedings protestors and victims' family members caused a commotion outside the jail at Puerto Plata's Palacio de Justicia, preventing officials from pressing charges. The situation got to the point where traffic had to be re-routed around the courthouse. The charges being brought against some of the 51 accused include murder charges against First Lt. Jose Danile Cepeda Rubio, Sergeant Rafael Lora Rosario and Officer Addier Miguel Mustafa for the death of Ruddy Cabrera and Julio Cesar Garcia Almonte. Colonel Frank Felix Almonte, Sergeant Major Joaquin Antonio Roque, Sergeant Jeremias Morales and Second Lt. Pedro Pablo Toribio are also implicated in the murders. Listin Diario reports that the Public Ministry is investigating three other officers said to be involved in illegal activities. It is being reported that many of the officers charged traffickers "tolls" in return for the police turning a blind eye to their operations.

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