Precinct 3 Police Meet and Greet in Belize City

And on the streets of the city, a team of police officers led by Superintendent Suzette Anderson was deployed this afternoon.  While there was no chaos or crime to report on in the downtown area today, the officers were busy chitchatting with residents in Precinct Three’s jurisdiction.  They shook hands, asked questions, laughed and made small talk, all in an effort to gain grounds within the New Road community.  We caught up with Superintendent Anderson, who told News Five that the initiative helps to build confidence within the neighborhood.

Supt. Suzette Anderson, O.C., Precinct Three, Belize City Police

“Certainly we are out on our weekly meet and greet operations today. This area that we are dealing with happens to be the sector one A area within the area of our responsibility. What we do is to speak with residents in the area, try to get a feedback from them as to how they see the police operating in the neighborhood; is there any issues or concerns that they can be able to highlight to us so that we can find ways and means how to address those issues and concerns. And it serves us to be able to reach closer with our community and at the same time, we take time to encourage them as to what they need to do in terms of dealing with their safety; to be security conscious as well and what to do in terms of whether suspicious activities are being noticed by them…to be able to reach out to the police so that the attention could be provided in relation to what is taking place.”

Isani Cayetano

“What has the reception been like in terms of meeting and greeting residents in this area and the fact that you guys are essentially doing an outreach, so to speak?”

Suzette Anderson

Supt. Suzette Anderson

“The reception has been very good. People have been receiving us in their homes; they like the initiative, they believe that it is a good one and they encourage us to keep on doing it. They like the fact that the police has taken these steps to try and meet with them and to listen to their concerns, to have that interaction from door to door. And as well, as we go about visiting them, the concerns in this area are not much as it relates to crimes occurring within this particular neighborhood, but they would like to see the police presence in this area. They are much encouraged when they observe the police patrolling their area.”

Isani Cayetano

“I know you have the Majestic or Pinks Alley within your jurisdiction as well in terms of your area of responsibility. What has been the relationship between members of that particular precinct and residents in that part of the neighborhood?”

Supt. Suzette Anderson

“Well in the Pinks Alley, we have a mandatory 24/7 foot patrol in that area. That is ever present in that area, 24/7. Even though the foot patrol is in that area, we conduct our meet and greet sessions within that area as well and the reception is good as well. Even though the perception may be that Pinks Alley is a bad neighborhood, there are very good people within that neighborhood because on a daily basis, we can be able to go there and we can interact with the residents in that neighborhood.”

Another meet and greet session by officers attached to precincts One and Two was also held in the Fabers Road Extension community this afternoon.