And one cop set to traverse both sides of the island is Officer Commanding San Pedro Alejandro Cowo. He was notably seen responding to J'Bria Bowens' murder and ferrying her body to the polyclinic in the bed of a pickup truck. Those images and the utter fiasco of an American being murdered in San Pedro's Central Park made many feel that it might have been over for officer Cowo on Ambergris Caye.
We put that question to the Commissioner on Saturday but he shot it down immediately saying that while Cowo received a reprimand He's staying put. Some of his subordinates however were in for a serious re-shuffle right off the island. Here's more
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"We are also looking at changing some of the officers in San Pedro because from what we have been told is that some of them are too cozy with these drug dealers or gang members, you either are a police officer or a gang member. You can't be two of them."
Cherisse Halsall:
"There was a new officer commanding San Pedro, this division, Eastern division, that was officer Cowo, will he now be recalled after this fiasco?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I don't think that mister Cowo has anything to do with it. He is a hard worker, he is committed he is dedicated but he needs to get more support from the local officers and that is the reason why we are going to remove some of those who are below him to make sure that we give him people who are going to work. I have not had any faults with Mr. Cowo, yes I have said certain things to him in meetings and you all know my style. I Have said to him what I need to say to him to ensure that the efficiency of the police in San Pedro improves. He has accepted what I have said to him and I am now going to provide him with more so I am the parent that is going to flag him when you have done wrong to correct you and when I done flag you, I will work with you to make sure that we make amends in moving forward so that has been done and I do not foresee Mr. Cowo being a part of the moves."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Will he be supported by officer Noble for any amount of time?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Mr Noble is one of the deputy officers in the Eastern division, by virtue of Mr Noble's office he does have jurisdiction over San Pedro and so Mr Noble will be tasked to make frequent checks to San Pedro perhaps every two weeks just to come and sit with Mr Cowo and see how things are going and if there is anything that we can do from headquarters or from Eastern division to enhance what is being done on the island then we do so but certainly, Mr Noble will have to have a more active role in terms of coming to San Pedro, and soaking. It's not to micro-manage Mr Cowo, MR. Cowo is the commander but the fact that Noble was here and has a vast knowledge of the island and how it was being policed, he can assist Mr Cowo."
