Constable Stephanie Patten and Others Facing Disciplinary Tribunal

She was hauled before the court last week after her peers conducted a raid of her house in Orange Walk and allegedly found a stash of guns and ammunition, among other illegally kept items. Today, Head of the Belize Police Department’s Professional Standards Branch, Senior Superintendent Calbert Flowers told the media via a Zoom interview that Constable Stephanie Patten is one of several police officers who are going before disciplinary tribunals within the department.

Sr. Supt. Calbert Flowers

Sr. Supt. Calbert Flowers, Head, Professional Standards Branch, B.P.D.

“Internally, she has already been written to, she has been served with notice of complaint and has been served with a letter for her to give an explanation, after which disciplinary charges will be followed. She will definitely be charged internally and will be facing a tribunal for this matter. No doubt about it.”

And everyone will remember Constable Alicia Trapp, who took to Facebook three Sundays ago to blast her Area Representative, Minister Julius Espat for an exchange over the village council elections in which she felt he verbally abused her. Since then she lawyered up and both her and Espat have drawn their lines in the sand. She wants the Police to charge him and he wants her to apologize, none of which has happened. Today, Sr Supt Flowers informed that she too has been served with a Notice of Complaint and a letter giving her a chance to explain her actions – that of breaching the Police Department’s social media policy. Meanwhile, another member of the department who is attached to the Corozal Police Station will also be dealt with internally. Constable Sabas Williams will also be charged for breach of the Police Department’s social media policy and Sr. Superintendent Flowers said that there are several videos that have been taken off social media that will be used as evidence against her. Williams has since been placed on suspension as this is not the first time that she is before a tribunal for this same offence. Flowers notified that all police members are aware of the social media policy because it is written on their manual.