He calls himself "Mr. Nothing Nice", and as you heard former gang leaders attest last night on this newscast, Inspector Chester Williams is their least liked officer. And while he may be losing the popularity contest on the streets, Williams is trying to win the love of his department. Every month, he's choosing 6 officers of the month and he's enlisted the support of the Chamber of Commerce to do so. Today Williams and the Chamber's Omar Ortiz told us why this program matters.
Inspector Chester Williams, Patrol Branch
"We have been looking at ways and means as to how we can come about with ideas on ways and means to motivate our officers and likewise to develop a competitiveness between the officers who are working at patrol branch; particularly patrolling the streets of Belize City. In that area we have patrol branch, we have Caribbean Shores, and likewise we have the Domestic Violence Unit. All of them fall under the Patrol Branch and seeing as how patrol branch is the area of the police department that has the largest number of staff, over 300 plus, we just see it fit that we recognize each individual officer from each relief. We will reward them at the end of the month for the hard work that they did over the past month."
Omar Ortiz, Chamber of Commerce
"The Chamber of Commerce is merely trying to see how we can assist in a manner and means through which we can aid them financially. We say its not a million dollars but in these days of hard time and everything else that we have to deal with we want the for the policemen and woman to understand that the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry stands behind them 100% in their good efforts."
The officers of the month are Gale Gibson, Roman Canul, Ersel Garcia, Shirlette O'Brien, Hector Chable, and Jose Reneau. 6 officers will be selected monthly and in the future the certificate will be accompanied by a check.