Typically, when a member of the Police Department commits a crime - it's because an officer has erred on the side of being too aggressive, in some cases, just being too macho. And that macho image is probably why the department's rank and file is so ill at ease with the allegations against Constable Mark Tucker who is accused of sodomizing a 15-year-old boy.
The PD's Top Cop Commissioner Jose Zetina told us he is embarrassed by the allegation. But he wasn't quite clear on what can be done to rid the department of sexual predators of any sexual persuasion.
Jose Zetina, Commissioner of Police
"I have been strong with respect to dealing with officer that step out of line this one shocked me to some extent that such a thing could have happened in this department."
Jules Vasquez,
"Are you personally embarrassed by it?"
Jose Zetina,
"Personally, yes."
Jules Vasquez,
"While sexual preference I don't believe is the issue when someone uses the guise of being a policeman that I am trustworthy to prey upon children - it leaves you with a very sick feeling - might somebody in the department have been able to intervene knowing the lifestyle or the habits of this person, of preying upon children?"
Jose Zetina,
"Well I don't know if you have to say because he is a policeman he preyed on an innocent child as you know you're dealing with human beings - and again you spoke about sexual preferences it's something I didn't know that…that had happened in anyway - it's only when the mother came up and reported it and we investigated and we did what we have to do."
Jules Vasquez,
"Is there a policy on homosexuality in the Belize Police Department?"
Jose Zetina,
"No, there's nothing as I say we don't we check a person's background in respect to their sexual preferences."
Tucker has been placed on interdiction pending the outcome of his case.