And this entire incident is a major PR mess for the police department - whose reputation already wasn't the best among the majority of the public. Some who still had hope may have just lost it after these policemen were caught doing the opposite of what they are tasked to do.
But the ComPol says don't lose faith yet, since they are weeding out the corrupt cops and should be commended for that.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"You are right in saying that's it's an erosion in public confidence, but the truth is it should not be. As a matter of fact, it should be something that boost public confidence. In the past we have been hearing about police involvement in these activities and they are never caught, but now we are catching them. Are we now supposed to pay the price for catching them or should be it that we must leave them to roam and commit these crime with impunity? I think the fact that we are at that stage now where they are being caught and exposed should be commended and not what is currently being done and this is what I would like the Belizean people to see, the number of officers we have discipline and dismissed over the past few months is unprecedented. It shows that we are serious about cleaning house and make sure we hold our officers accountable, but it seems like by doing that now we are being punished for doing what needs to be done. Are we supposed to have sat down and just allow the officers to commit these illegal activities not catching them and that would be acceptable to say that the department is clean? We recognize that we have dirty cops and I have always said so long as we get the information of the involvement of any criminal activities we are going after them and that is what we have been doing. So please do not condemn us for catching our officers and exposing them. we are to be commended."
