Southside Police Do Clean-Up on Racoon Street Extension

In Belize City and Belmopan today, the men and women of law enforcement were out in numbers as they went into several communities to carry out cleanup campaigns.  In the Old Capital, officers from Eastern Division South joined forces with the Belize City Council to clear up overgrown lots on Raccoon Street Extension, while in the Garden City they teamed up with inmates from the Belize Central Prison to take on the Rivera neighborhood.  News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

A team of police officers and City Council employees descended on Raccoon Street Extension this morning where they launched a massive cleanup effort in the area.  The idea is to clear all overgrown properties that are being used by criminal elements in the vicinity to stash guns and drugs.  The campaign is the result of an ongoing community outreach.  Leading the charge is Senior Superintendent Alden Dawson.

Alden Dawson

Sr. Supt. Alden Dawson, Deputy Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“This cleanup that you see going on is as a result of our weekly Meet & Greet.  When we meet the community in this area this is part of what they ask us to do to assist them in getting these abandoned lots cleaned.  The reason is because these criminals use these lots to hide stuff and they don’t feel safe with the bush near their residence.  So this is a result of the Meet & Greet.”

According to the Deputy Regional Commander for Eastern Division South, the police department turned to the Belize City Council for assistance with manpower because it naturally falls within their scope of responsibility.

Sr. Supt. Alden Dawson

“Because we do not have the capacity to do this kind of work and the City Council does, we normally meet with them and they agree.  We always partner with the City Council and they have been very receptive to us.  We got in touch with the mayor and he agreed to assist us and here we are today getting this thing done. We are doing it here on the south side but I believe it is done on the north side as well.  Today we have the complement of the Precinct Two police which are ten officers.  If you notice there are more than one lots being cleaned at the same time so there are in different areas.”

Those ten officers assigned to the task weren’t just standing by idly either.  They were on hand to make sure that whatever was found on the properties would be confiscated.

Sr. Supt. Alden Dawson

“This is all part of community policing and they are fully aware that this is all part of what they do in the capacity of ensuring that these people are all being fed and watered and to continue to communicate with the community as we go along.  They’re also here in the capacity of police, if any illegal item is found while the lot is being cleaned then they will retrieve it. We don’t have a specific number, we want to do as much as we can, as long as the weather permits.  Presently I think we have about four simultaneously being cleaned at this time.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.