Freedom of Expression Upheld by Courts in Police Suit

The Belize Police Department came into disrepute once again on Friday when several officers were arrested in connection with a drug plane landing in northern Belize District. That story dominated the evening newscast and may have stolen the thunder from their female colleagues who secured a legal victory earlier that day in the Supreme Court. A group of five officers, all women who wear dreadlocks, filed a claim before the court challenging the disciplinary measures taken against them regarding their freedom of expression, in this case, their hairstyles. The action taken against the women can be viewed as a form of racial discrimination. According to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, while he believes in freedom of expression when it comes to a disciplined organization such as the police department, there must be rules for women to abide by.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The truth is, the females or the officers involved, they have been working and we have no issues.  Some of them have been promoted even with their dreadlocks and the court ruling is the court ruling.  That’s the reason why we have a court system.  The court looks at laws and where the courts find that certain laws or certain rules are inconsistent with the constitution, it is the court’s duty to point it out to us and then we must make amends to our policies.  And so I have absolutely no issue with the court ruling.”

Reporter

“Sir, what’s your position on natural hair in a returning environment?”

Chester Williams

“While yes, I do believe that women should be able to express themselves, particularly in terms of how their natural appearance is supposed to be, I do believe that when it comes to a professional organization that there must be some guidelines that women should be able to follow.  Now the guidelines must not be too rigid that it takes away from them the ability to express themselves.  When it comes to police, B.D.F., coastguard, we are a disciplined organization and the fact that the nature of our work allows us to interact with people and may even come into, at times, some degree of struggle with people, like for example, a police going to arrest someone, you don’t want to have your hair in a style that the person that you may go to arrest will use your hair as weapon against you.”