In June of this year the Chief Justice signed an order instructing the Police Department to reinstate Constable Aldo Ayuso. Ayuso is the officer who in January of 2005 shot and killed Leslie Rogers, Jr. The DPP later decided not to bring charges against Ayuso.
Still, since February of 2005, the constable has not worn a police uniform - after he was dismissed by a police tribunal based on another report of misconduct.
He's been fighting his dismissal since then - arguing that the tribunal never told him what the charges against him were.
And in March of this year, he won that fight when the Supreme Court quashed his dismissal.
But despite the judgment and order of the court, the police department has done nothing and now his attorney Dean Lindo is threatening to file a writ of mandamus against the Commissioner Of Police, compelling him to act.
But for this controversial constable who has been out of uniform since February of 2005 - he's said he's still in a kind of administrative limbo but remains determined to get back his job:
Aldo Ayuso
"They say that I should be re-instated. No one from the police has ever contacted me presently, I saw in the newspaper that they interview my attorney but I tried contacted him, but I don't know anything official if I am going back. If I cannot get anything official we have sought for a date at the Supreme Court."
Jules Vasquez
"It seems that the department does not want Aldo Ayuso to be a police officer, why do you persist?"
Aldo Ayuso
"It's my passion, I love policing. If I should put on a uniform tomorrow, I am not there serving the commissioner but I am there serving the Belizean public."
Jules Vasquez
"With all these things you have to have some sense or resentment for being treated unfairly. You believe you have been treated unfairly?"
Aldo Ayuso
"I know I have been treated unfairly but I don't have resentment against anyone but all I am trying to do is pave the way for my fellow officers and future officers that they would not have to endure this kind of suffering. I am hoping that what I have gone through would pave the way for them that in the future anybody who is charge would be given disclosure, would be given a fair hearing. December 2005 I was dismiss and have not been collecting a salary, upstairs I have about 15 letters that I have applied for jobs, I have 2 associates degree, I have been applying for a job and have been unable to get a job because of all these circumstances that I am going through."
Jules Vasquez
"But if they continue to frustrate you are you prepare to at some point say 'man I have to left that alone'."
Aldo Ayuso
"I will never give up Jules. Like I said if I put on a uniform tomorrow and for some reason they will choose to dismiss me again, if it takes me another 5 years to fight again I will but not for myself but for my fellow officers."
The court says Ayuso is owed over $70,000.00 dollars in back pay and benefits.
The commissioner of police Crispin Jeffries is quoted in the Amandala as saying that if he is re-instated, Ayuso can be dismissed again. Ayuso says that in that event he would mount a fresh challenge arguing that he was not given disclosure at the original tribunal.
