LEAHY VETTING RECONSIDERATION

S E C R E T PORT AU PRINCE 000094 NOFORN SIPDIS WHA/CAR FOR ASHLEY CLINGMAN-JACKSON AND JOSEPH TILGHMAN INL/LP FOR KEVIN BROWN AND MEAGAN MCBRIDE INR/IAA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019 TAGS: MARR PGOV PHUM SNAR HA SUBJECT: LEAHY VETTING RECONSIDERATION REF: NAMDE-POLETES-WARD EMAILS (NOTAL) Classified By: Amb. Janet A. Sanderson, reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) This is an action message. ¶2. (S/NF) Post requests Department's reconsideration of a negative finding regarding Leahy vetting of the following individual in order to allow him to participate in future USG-sponsored training: Jean Brice (or Bryce),Ralph Stanley DOB: March 25, 1968 POB: Port au Prince ID # 004-040-2251 Position: West Department Director (DDO) for the Haitian National Police (HNP) ¶3. (S/NF) Post believes that a finding of failure of Leahy vetting for this HNP officer was made in error. When originally vetted at Post in April 2008, Post found no relevant derogatory information on the officer, who is well known to Post due to the high level position he occupies as the District Director of all HNP operations in the West Department, which includes Port au Prince. Subsequent to Post's vetting, Washington reported that he had failed Leahy vetting, with no additional information provided. With WHA/CAR's assistance, Post reviewed the reporting in question, and realized it was information which Post previously had regarded as not of concern for vetting Jean Brice. According to a new source as of May 2000, Brice was reported to have accepted free hotel rooms from someone who might be a known drug trafficker. Only the first name of the trafficker was available, but the report said that the HNP IG was concerned about the issue. Brice was then a police officer in Fort Liberte. Further checking by Post has revealed no additional information that corroborated Brice's possible link to drug traffickers, and no information since that time that would tie him to traffickers. At no time were any allegations of human rights abuses uncovered. ¶4. (S/NF) Action request: In light of Post's findings, Post requests that the previous finding of failure of Leahy vetting be overturned by the Department, clearing Jean Brice to participate in future USG-sponsored training. Post requests an expedited response as the office of the DDO is slated to be moved to the Main Police Station in Cite Soleil in February (site of USG-sponsored training and renovations under the Haiti Stabilization Initiative). SANDERSON