Overview:
Haiti’s National Police has added 1,200 new recruits to its ranks as authorities seek to strengthen a force struggling to contain escalating gang violence. The May 29 graduation ceremony took place hours before three police officers and a civilian were killed in a gang confrontation.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haiti’s National Police (PNH) recently graduated 1,200 new officers, including nearly 250 women, as part of the authorities ongoing efforts to bolster the force struggling to contain expanding gang violence.
Held on May 29, the graduation ceremony occurred just hours before three police officers and a civilian were killed during an operation against the Gran Grif gang in the Artibonite Department, underscoring both the risks officers face and the urgent need for additional security personnel.
The newly graduated officers, including 239 women, constitute the 36th class of the PNH and the second cohort trained under the P4000+ program, a government initiative to recruit 4,000 new police officers within a year to strengthen the country’s public security forces.
The program receives support from the United States through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Canada and the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti.
The latest class brings the total number of officers trained under the program to nearly 2,100, including 877 graduates from the first cohort in January, of whom about 200 are women.
New officers from the 36th cohort of the Haitian National Police (PNH) marching in the courtyard of the National Police Academy during the graduation ceremony in Pétion-Ville, Haiti, on Friday, May 29, 2026. Credit: Prime Minister’s Office via Facebook
Speaking during the ceremony in Pétion-Ville, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé told the recruits they were entering the force at one of the most challenging periods in Haiti’s modern history.
“You are joining the police during one of the most difficult periods in our country’s history,” Fils-Aimé said.
“But you are also joining at a crucial moment for Haiti’s future, with a mission to protect lives, uphold the law, and defend the peace, security and dignity of the Haitian people,” he added.
The prime minister described the new officers as part of the government’s “zero tolerance” strategy against gangs and pledged continued operations to retake territory.
“The state will never abandon any territory in the hands of criminals, and the police are already beginning to enter gang strongholds,” he assured. “I want to tell the bandits and those who support them that this is only the beginning.”
The graduation ceremony and the deadly attack in Artibonite occurred during a visit by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who traveled to Haiti on May 29 to reaffirm Washington’s support for security efforts.
L-R: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and the Director General of the Police, Jonas André Vladimir Paraison, walk in the courtyard of the National Palace in Champ de Mars, Port-au-Prince, on Friday, May 29, 2026. Photo via the Prime Minister’s Office Facebook page.
For many Haitians, the graduation ceremony represented both hope and uncertainty — a reminder that while new officers are desperately needed, policing remains among the country’s most dangerous professions.
As one widely shared social media post noted, every police graduation in Haiti brings “two emotions at the same time: joy and concern.”
Families celebrate loved ones who have chosen to serve their country. Yet many also understand the risks that come with wearing the uniform in a nation where dozens of officers have lost their lives in recent years.
For Haiti’s newest recruits, the challenge begins immediately.
Deadly reminder came swiftly after ceremony
The officers were killed during an operation in the Carrefour Robert area along the road connecting Saint-Marc and Verrettes, according to the PNH. Authorities said law enforcement units came under heavy fire while attempting to repel an offensive by gang members against local communities.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show armed men stripping the slain officers of their weapons, ammunition and protective equipment. Local media reported that the victims included two members of the Anti-Gang Tactical Unit (UTAG), one officer from the Motorized Intervention Brigade (BIM) and a civilian affiliated with a local self-defense group.
In a May 30 statement, the PNH confirmed that three officers and one civilian were killed. However, their identities have not been officially released. The law enforcement institution added that specialized teams remain deployed to recover the officers’ bodies and pursue those responsible.
“While strongly condemning this act of barbarity, the PNH High Command salutes the courage of its officers and extends its heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.”
Haitian National Police
The latest casualties bring to at least eight the number of law enforcement personnel killed this year so far. One officer — Coast Guard member Jean Pois Walex Joseph — remained missing at sea.
These losses highlight the dangers confronting a police force that remains significantly understaffed for a country of nearly 12 million people. Even before the crisis escalated, the size of the national police fluctuated between 10,000 and 13,500 active officers. Haiti Security experts and international partners have repeatedly stressed the need for thousands of additional officers as gangs continue to expand their territorial control.
Unofficial reports estimate that armed groups now control about 85% to 90% of Port-au-Prince’s metropolitan area and continue to extend their influence into parts of Artibonite and the Centre Department. More than 2,000 people have been killed in gang-related violence since the start of the year, according to the United Nations, while the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that the number of displaced people has reached 1.5 million.
Against that backdrop, the graduation of nearly 1,200 recruits represents one of the largest recent additions to Haiti’s security forces.
