2026-02-09

The Police Nationale d'Haiti launched training for its 36th class of 1,200 recruits including 239 women on February 8 at the National Police Academy in Petion-Ville representing the most aggressive force expansion in recent history. The cohort is the second under the P4000+ program which aims to train 4,000 new officers between 2026 and early 2027 with support from the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, Canada and BINUH. The previous 35th class designated Aurore graduated 877 officers on January 23, 2026. Prime Minister Fils-Aime described P4000 as a strategic response to the national security emergency. The recruitment drive occurs as PNH intensifies anti-gang operations following January 2026 drone strikes against Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier's properties in Delmas 6 Port-au-Prince. The operation involved PNH FAd'H GSF elements the PM's task force and a private military company destroying three houses and reportedly dislodging Cherizier from his stronghold according to Le Monde reporting February 7. Current status and location of Cherizier remain February 09, 2026 unconfirmed. The US maintains a 5 million dollar reward for information leading to his capture. Le Nouvelliste reported February 6 that a well-placed source summarized the operational posture of security forces with one word intensifier suggesting continued aggressive operations in Port-au-Prince and potentially expanding to Artibonite. Infrastructure improvements accompany force expansion. HaitiLibre reported February 9 the reopening of the Port-au-Prince Airport crossroads sub-police station improving security coverage around Toussaint Louverture Airport. Construction progress was reported on a new Nippes departmental police station in Miragoane supported by UNDP and Japan. The 1,200-recruit class represents approximately 40 percent force expansion over 16 months when combined with previous graduations creating significant operational capacity increase but requiring sustained training quality and institutional absorption capability.