No Preferential Treatment for Melonie Magdaleno

Melonie Magdaleno

Melonie Magdaleno has come under fire in the past for purportedly being afforded preferential treatment by the Belize Police Department because of her mother, Deputy Commissioner Dezerie Phillips-Magdaleno.  Some even believe she used her connections to advance her ambitions within the department.  What they may not be aware of is that Magdaleno has been working as a security officer with the B.P.D. for over a decade.  When asked about the so-called special treatment, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams scoffed at the notion that she was being favored over her colleagues.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Mrs. Magdaleno’s daughter has been working with the police department for over ten years as a security officer.  She, just like many, many others, applied to and was issued with [a] regulation number and as far as we are concerned, the fact that she had been a security officer for over ten years working with the police, that is better training and better knowledge than any recruit who comes out of the academy because they have been doing the job for over ten years.  What would make her different?  Is it because one, she’s the daughter of Mrs. Magdaleno or two, because she is a woman?  I don’t know.  People need to stop trying to create mischief because if you were to check the records, over last year and this year we have had over twenty special constables and security officers who were appointed police officers.  But you know what, no issue was made of the others because they were men.  The issue is made over this one woman because she is a woman?  We need to stop wih nonsense, honestly.”