GSU Mandate to be Expanded Following Hostage Situation on the Mahogany
Chester Williams
The lengthy standoff between three armed bandits and officers from the Belize Police Department has prompted ComPol Chester Williams to carefully consider the leadership, as well as the role of the Gang Suppression Unit. Not only will there be a new commander of G.S.U. in the weeks ahead, but that as yet unnamed lawman will also be trained in hostage negotiation. According to the top cop, the scope of the specialized unit will also be expanded to include the resolving of hostilities in these circumstances. Following the confrontation, Senate President Lee Mark Chang was called in to assist with the debriefing of the victims since there is a language barrier between the Asian couple and the investigating team.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“As you would know that the proprietors are of Asian descent and we don’t have police officers who speak Asian. As is the norm, the proprietors requested to have Mr. Lee Mark Chang present so that he could bridge that communication barrier between us and them. After the dust was settled, Mr. Chang was brought in and he assisted the police in terms of communicating with the victims.”
Reporter
“Sir, are there thoughts of training police specifically for situations such as these because this is the second time that we have seen something like this happen.”
Chester Williams
“Well, most naturally it is something that we have to consider and I will tell you that I have in mind a specific officer to command the Gang Suppression Unit and that officer is well trained and I am sure that if he should take up the command of that unit he will be able to train the members of the Gang Suppression Unit as I believe that they would be a good team or unit to be able to deal with situations of this nature. So with him going there and getting further assistance, maybe from different agencies, we should be able to have a team that will be tasked specifically to deal with situations of this nature.”
