Overview:
A solemn ceremony was held in Port-au-Prince for the 30th anniversary of the Haitian National Police (PNH), marking three decades of service amid a severe security crisis. Established in 1995 to maintain public order following the dissolution of the Armed Forces, the PNH now faces an alarming rise in gang violence and a significant erosion of its operational capacity. The celebration took place in a context where gang activity has claimed more than 30 lives and destroyed 18 police facilities.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haiti’s National Police, PNH, marked its 30th anniversary on June 12 with ceremonies across the country, celebrating the force’s legacy amid one of its darkest periods—decimated ranks, shrinking territory, and a war against gangs it is struggling to win.
“For 30 years, our police have stood firm to protect and serve the population,” said Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé at a ceremony held at the National Police Academy. “I extend my gratitude to all police personnel who continue to sacrifice themselves daily to fight against the armed gangs that spread chaos.”
Founded in 1995 to replace the disbanded military, the PNH was envisioned as a professional, apolitical force. Three decades later, the PNH remains the country’s only functioning security institution—but one that operates under extreme strain, with overburdened officers, limited resources, and mounting pressure to restore order as armed groups expand their grip on the country.
A force under fire, but still standing
The Port-au-Prince ceremony brought together government officials, members of the Transitional Presidential Council, CPT, the PNH and Haiti’s Armed Forces High Command, the commander of the Multinational Security Support mission (MSS), the Secretary-General of BINUH and foreign diplomats.
“On this occasion, I extend my gratitude and appreciation to all police personnel who continue to sacrifice themselves daily to fight against the armed gangs that spread chaos among the population.”
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
At the Police Academy, the PNH band echoed through the air with ceremonial songs as police officers from different units marched in formation, bearing the national flag and shouldering weapons. On many faces—particularly among senior officers—pride and exhaustion mingled with grief, reflecting the force’s heavy toll over the past year. The speeches and wreath-laying unfolded in solemn contrast to past anniversaries, where festive parades and community events once marked the day.
“Today, I invite you not only to commemorate, but to reflect,” said PNH Director General Rameau Normil. “The 30th anniversary highlights the urgent need to confront the terror of gangs and their enablers. Our future, as a nation, is tied to the future of this institution.”
The speech came after a year of record losses for the force. This past year has been one of the deadliest in the police force’s history. At least 33 police officers were killed between June 2024 and June 2025, according to the National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) report published on the PNH’s 30th anniversary. Armed groups also burned or destroyed 18 police stations, particularly in Port-au-Prince, Delmas, and Carrefour-Feuilles, reducing territorial control and forcing many officers to live in overcrowded posts or with relatives.
The PNH force now has roughly 13,500 active-duty officers for a population of more than 11 million people. Fewer than 300 of Haiti’s 570 municipalities have a consistent police presence, according the Human Rights organization Center of Analysis and Research in Human Rights, CARDH. Over two dozen neighborhoods remain under gang control.
“This 30th anniversary is also a time to clearly identify the major challenges obstructing the future of the National Police— now inseparably linked to an urgent necessity to combat the terror imposed by gangs and the atrocities of criminal groups.”
PNH Director General Rameau Normil
“Since those areas fell under the grip of the Viv Ansanm criminal coalition, many police officers have been forced to live with friends, relatives, or inside the very stations where they’re assigned,” the RNDDH notes.
“This reality—seemingly overlooked by the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN)—has been evident in several precincts, including Port-au-Prince, Delmas, and the Canapé-Vert sub-station.”
Commemorating in Cap-Haïtien—and holding the line
In Cap-Haïtien, the country’s second-largest city, the 30th anniversary was marked with more public celebrations. Police officers in black and gold uniforms attended a morning mass at the city’s cathedral, joined by Mayor Yvrose Pierre and city prosecutor Charles Edouard Durand. In preliminary commemorative activities, on June 11, police beat a local teachers’ team in a friendly soccer match at Parc Saint-Victor.
“The police officers have a lot of determination to work for the community,” the Northern Department’s police spokesperson Arold Jean, told The Haitian Times. “The public trusts us. That’s what’s behind our success. Despite all the difficulties, we turn 30 today.”
A fragile institution with a shrinking budget
Despite their role on the frontlines, members of the police force continue to operate with limited support and basic supplies. Many lack functioning patrol vehicles, bulletproof vests, or even reliable radios.
While the Transitional Presidential Council recently announced a “war budget” to fight gangs, RNDDH, which recently examined the allocation for the PNH, said that this so-called “war budget” is one in name only, “symbolic at best.”
Based on available data, the current breakdown of the Haitian National Police budget is as follows:
- The PNH receives only 10% of the total national budget.
- Of that, 73% is allocated to personnel expenses (salaries, compensation, social charges);
- Just 27% is directed toward investment (equipment, infrastructure, training);
- Overall, these investment expenditures represent only 3% of the total national budget.
Police officers working in neighborhoods targeted by gangs say they still lack basic equipment like protective gear and functioning patrol vehicles. Many of the force’s specialized units—including SWAT, BIM, and UTAG—continue operations in Port-au-Prince, but with fewer personnel and declining morale.
Renewed calls for PNH reform and respect
Despite its weaknesses, the PNH remains essential to maintaining a semblance of public order. Officials acknowledged the gap between what the public expects and what the force can deliver—while urging renewed investment.
“To the women and men of the PNH’s various units, I call on the population to offer them recognition and respect,” said CPT representative Leslie Voltaire. “All police officers aspire to a better future for Haitians. That’s why the PNH has chosen to stand firm.”
The 30th anniversary, while muted, served as a reminder: the fight for Haiti’s future still passes through the country’s embattled police stations—and the men and women inside them.
“Without the police, gangs would rule all of Haiti,” said one officer, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The PNH isn’t perfect, but it’s our last line of defense.”
Here are some photos from the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and officers on duty in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien:
