Former Cop fighting for wages and job

Ex-police officer, Aldo Ayuso was fired in 2005 and six years later he is still fighting to get his job back. Ayuso was charged for the fatal shooting of Leslie Rogers in February, 2005 and even though he was freed of the Manslaughter charges, he was dismissed from the force later that year. He sued the Commissioner of Police as well as the Belize Advisory Council for wrongful dismissal and on March first, 2011 his termination was overturned by the Supreme Court. He was awarded five years salaries plus interest, all allowances, and increments; but that wasn’t the end of it. Ayuso soon received a letter from the Police Department saying that he was dismissed from the department on the advice of the Solicitor General because he had been convicted of Using a Firearm without Just Cause by a disciplinary tribunal.  The ex-cop is now challenging his second dismissal at the Advisory Council while he also has a case before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin in which he is seeking an order for payment of his retroactive salaries as awarded by the Supreme Court in 2011. He gave News Five an update after a session in the CJ’s Chambers this morning.

Aldo Ayuso, Challenging Dismissal from Police Department

“In December 2005 I was dismissed from police and I took it all the way up to the Supreme Court where in 2010 the then Chief Justice set aside the dismissal because the Police Department did not comply with the Police Act as what the law states for me to be dismissed. Thereafter, the police then dismissed me once again in February 2011 and at this present time I’m at court trying to get paid for the period for the first dismissal in 2005 up until the second dismissal in 2011.  But what the chief justice is saying is that there is no question that they must pay me because the letter states clearly that I was dismissed in February, 2011. But he is asking both parties to come to some sort of agreement because I also have that dismissal at the Belize Advisory Council where I am appealing the second dismissal. So he is saying that it’s running at the Advisory Council and it’s running at the courts but a decision has to be made between my attorney and the government side.”

Delahnie Bain

Aldo Ayuso

“So you will definitely get paid and now it’s just a matter of when?”

Aldo Ayuso

“Well, I must be paid up until—from December 2005 up until February 2011 but the point we’re waiting for is when. And as everybody knows this matter has been going on for quite some time and I have fought with—this will be the third administration that I am fighting with trying to get paid and trying to get my monies and have everything settled.”

Delahnie Bain

“And so the case at the advisory council, you’re seeking reinstatement?”

Aldo Ayuso

“Yes, I’m seeking reinstatement because I was dismissed wrongfully. I mean they have simply no evidence in order to dismiss me and if I do not get justice at the advisory council I will have to be back at the Supreme Court again so I think I’m in for the long haul.”

If Ayuso’s second termination is overturned, that will significantly increase the amount of retroactive salaries owed to him.