The commander dealing with that area is now Senior Superintendent Daniel Arzu. He took over today along with many new changes of command countrywide.
One that raised a few eyebrows is the new Commander of Special Branch Headquarters.
That's Senior Superintendent Sandra Bodden, an officer who enjoys the full confidence of the Commissioner of police. She will become the first woman to head Special Branch - which is a specialized unit for intelligence gathering, or, to put it simply: they are Belize's spies and secret keepers.
And while the elevation of a woman to this senior and sensitive post is to be applauded, the only thing is, Bodden has never been a Special Branch officer - and that unit, perhaps more than any other in the department - has its own particular culture.
So, some have questioned whether she will be a right fit - and we asked the Compol about it today - and he was kinda defensive:
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Senior Superintendent Bodden was not performing spectacularly in the southern region. I dont think the numbers for the southern region are what you had wished them to be, has never been an intellegence officer, but now will run special branch nationally."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I don't know why is it that some of us have the tendency of bringing down women. Ms. Bodden is a very good worker. Ms. Bodden is very committed, she is intelligent, she is educationally sound and she have the will to learn and so I have no difficulty believing that she being the first woman to head special branch is going to do an exceptional job at special branch. So whoever is saying to you that Ms. Bodden this and Ms. Bodden that..."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"It's just a matter of fact. She has never been an intelligence officer."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"When you first became a reporter, were you a reporter before? No. I am sure. We all for the first time it will be the first time we do something."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"It's head of National SB."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"To say that its preferential treatment, I am sure that Channel 5 and PlusTV will say that I afford you preferential treatment this working. I waited for you for 10 minutes while we are here waiting. Is that really the case that it's preferential treatment? No."
