Officers May Face Disciplinary Action for Lying in Tyson Rodriguez Murder

On November twenty-second, Tyson Rodriguez died while in Police custody. Since then a Sergeant of Police, second in command of the Placencia Police formation Julio Shal, has been charged with murder. Shal and two other officers alleged that Rodriguez escaped from the back of the Police vehicle and they found him dead shortly after. That story was disputed by an eyewitness, which resulted in the charge of murder being brought against Shal. Today News Five asked Acting Commissioner Miguel Segura for an update on the fate of the two officers who, by all indications, lied when they gave statements supporting Shal’s story. Segura didn’t have much new to report, but says that the officers involved will face disciplinary charges if any evidence of unethical behavior is discovered.

Miguel Segura, Acting Commissioner of Police

Miguel Segura

“In most cases these type investigation we run it parallel, be fully aware of it. The criminal aspect we are working with the D.P.P., and the D.P.P. will guide us to continue the proceeding. Infernally, similarly after looking at the criminal we will deal with our internal aspect. But first and foremost the closure that the family feels, and the evidence that means the threshold in the court of law and the D.P.P. are there to assist us. Once we have that evidence, the difference between our disciplinary codes, internal issues and the criminal. In the criminal aspect you have to prove beyond reasonable doubt. Internally, the threshold of that is more minimal that one we have that evidence and prove that our police act was violated we will proceed. But we are guided by what is available, because emotions is one thing, but once it is in black and white we will proceed, There is no two ways about it.”

To be fair to Segura, he admitted that he has not yet examined the file on the Tyson Rodriguez murder. Segura is the head of the Eastern division in Belize City, and is only acting as Commissioner while ComPol Allen Whylie is out of the country.