One week from today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Suzette Anderson is supposed to deliver to the Prime Minister her completed investigation into the abduction of Joseph Budna. It's unprecedented for the police to deliver an investigative file to the head of government - but, so it is, that's what the Prime Minister has ordered.
Reports tell us that the Prime Minister is also confident that at the end of the Commissioner of Police Richard Rosado's 45 day administrative leave that he can bring him back into the seat as top cop.
From where we sit it would seem that Rosado's credibility might be strained. And it all stems from the quite disastrous press conference he chaired on august 25th. Jules Vasquez compiled his deflections, evasions and untruths:
Richard Rosado, Commissioner Of Police
"We do know that there was a confrontation among four individuals. One of them fit the description of Joseph Budna, who was placed in a, it appears to be a car."
But minutes earlier, he had said:
Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police
"A witness reported that one individual matching the description of Joseph Budna was placed in an SUV Vehicle with Belize City plates."
Richard Rosado
"But our investigation so far has not revealed that any police officer approached those individuals, and it was shown in the camera footage that only four, the confrontation were among four individuals."
Rosado refers knowingly to the camera footage - but then why did he lie about what is clear to be see on the video - which isCorporal Choco responding and being waved off by one of the abductors?
Richard Rosado, Commissioner Of Police
"The challenge that came to us was when we had to follow leads or misleading leads that diverted the, or took a number of of our investigative capabilities."
"Initially we were, the information we were getting was several description of several different vehicles."
The truth is that the police officer at the station - in fact, any officer at the station who cared to look just 100 feet down the road - could have seen that it was a sky blue Chevy Equinox - which had actually blocked the street leading to the police station:
The abductors took Budna through the checkpoint in Arenal -
Richard Rosado, Commissioner Of Police
"You're saying that the vehicle... you have to realize that in Arenal, there are several, we have several, several ways to reach to Arenal. Through the Santa Rosa…three are almost three routes."
"Almost" - also not quite. This is both deflection and untruth in one - there is only one way for an SUV to make it to the Arenal field in three and a half hours from Orange Walk. And that is the Arenal Road where there is a checkpoint.
Richard Rosado, Commissioner Of Police
"I'm confident that no vehicle fitting that descri
ption pass the VCP."
Jules Vasquez
"So but how do you get from Orange Walk to Arenal, if they didn't get there...?"
Richard Rosado, Commissioner Of Police
"That is what the investigation will reveal."
Jules Vasquez
"The allegation by Mr. Budna includes a claim that calls were made in the car to the Compol, saying that we have the man, what do you say in response to that?"
Richard Rosado, Commissioner Of Police
"Like I said, anybody could say anything and if I would get a dollar for every and every rumor that is being made, I would be a millionaire by now. But we are taking all, all reports, we are looking, in fact we are looking, we are following all investigative leads and wherever that leads to the chips will fall where it may."
But it's an evasion because he didn't answer the question of whether he did get a call, and also an untruth because police were not following the main lead - they could not have been since Rosado had already declared that there was no possibility of police involvement:
Richard Rosado, Commissioner Of Police
"Let me be unequivocally clear. The police department was not involved in the apprehension or the alleged extradition of Mr. Budna. Certain serious allegations were made. And from our initial investigation, what is being alleged was not conducted by our police officers or were not sanctioned by the senior commander of the police department."
An untruth which of course, led to an evasion:
Richard Rosado, Commissioner Of Police
"There is no assurance of transparency once there is an allegation of police officers and police are investigating."
"Allegation like this is what we the vacuum of trust that I must correct that I must see how we can be more transparent and accountable."
That is also an untruth because investigators were in fact being told - as they were that night - to look away from the truth.
Jules Vasquez
"Has there been any specific conversation with Mr Dubon, the officer commanding for Orange Walk. If the allegation is true, which Budna claims that he sent him all the particulars of this of the vehicle the abductors were in."
Richard Rosado, Commissioner Of Police
"That was not communicated to me by Mr Dubon. And I'm sure if that was communicated, if he had that information that would have communicated to me or my operational commander, and that was not communicated to us."
This may also be an untruth - Budna insists he told Dubon. It will be left to be seen what Dubon will tell investigators - and if Budna is right - if he has the courage to counter his commissioner.
