ACP Williams Says G.S.U. Must Have Some Respect

The Gang Suppression Unit, despite a standing agreement among various Belize City groups to hold the peace, remains on a sustained campaign to crack down on these elements.  Those sting operations have raised the ire of many in their respective communities, including activist Diane Finnegan, who has been quite outspoken on the issue of police brutality and harassment.  Along with her in the effort to maintain the ceasefire is Nuri Muhammad, Jawhi and ACP Chester Williams.  The Eastern Division South commander finds himself in somewhat of a pickle, since on one end he is primarily tasked with enforcing the rule of law and on the other he is equally instrumental in brokering and preserving the existing truce.  Today, we asked him for a comment on the GSU’s hard-hitting approach.

Isani Cayetano

“Your colleague has been rather vocal with regards to the Gang Suppression Unit going into specific areas of Belize City, particularly where it’s gang infested and they’re cracking down on some of these individuals.  As a member of the police department, I wouldn’t want to put you in a conflicting position but I’d like a response in terms of the way this is being dealt with from another branch of the department.”

Chester Williams

ACP Chester Williams, O.C., Eastern Division South

“Well you must understand that Mrs. Finnegan does have a passion in what they do, just like myself.  Yes, we have been very much busy working with these young men to see how we can get some semblance of calm from them and we must understand that the police do have a job to do.  The problem we do have at times is the mechanism by which the job is being done.  The police can go in any area and operate, we just ask that in doing so that we respect human rights and human dignity and that is all we ask for.”