Police seek to raise recruiting standards
In the midst of what is becoming the loudest and most expensive political campaign in Belizean history, it is sometimes difficult for the media to avoid getting caught up in the immediate frenzy of partisan rivalries. But for most Belizeans, life goes on amidst the cacophony, as News 5’s Jacqueline Woods found out right next door to our newsroom. It turns out that the crowd of young people at S.J.C. Extension was nothing less than the future of law enforcement.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Over a hundred persons have applied to become part of the next intake of police officers. But the exercise involves more than just the candidates filling out a form and waiting for a reply, something that the recruit members of squad seventy-nine have been finding out since they applied for the job. It’s not certain just how many of them will qualify, but the applicants seem determined.
Keisha Lopez, Applicant, Recruit Intake 79
“Well there are a lot of crime happening in our country right now and I would like to see Belize be safe in many ways so that is why I am interested in joining and becoming a police woman.”
Kendale Lino, Applicant, Recruit Intake 79
“I realize that we the youths in Belize is really getting out of hand. So probably being in the police I could try and stop the youths getting involved. Because as you can notice, it’s lone youths getting involved in crime, burglaries and those stuff. So probably I could be a role model for the youths and show them we could all change.”
The amount of criticisms levied against the police for the misconduct of some of its officers has prompted authorities to improve the way it recruits new officers. According to Assistant Inspector of Police Elodio Aragon, while you can never have too many applicants, the need is for quality, not quantity.
A.S.P. Elodio Aragon, Commandant, Police Training Academy
“We want quality personnel out there to deal with situations that arise on a daily basis. Having quality persons, persons of good character then we give better service to the community.”
Each candidate is interviewed and their forms carefully examined. No person in possession of a criminal record is accepted and the applicants must also take a written examination. That test was conducted this morning at the S.JC. Extension Department.
A.S.P. Elodio Aragon
“I’m very impressed. We have a good number of people who have come. Belize City, we are presently doing today, we have already done the south, the west and the north, and this is the last examinations that we giving for this intake. And I am very impressed because we have a number of high school people right, and the amount that I have seen over the years, this is one of the better days.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Not all make it, though? What is the percentage who actually succeed?”
ASP Elodio Aragon
“Okay, out of the amount that comes in, it all depend on their qualifications, but more than likely out of the amount that is here, I estimate that there will be about a forty percent being accepted or less.”
Following the examinations, the successful applicants will then undergo other tests, including medical and physical fitness. If they make it that far, the candidates will then move to Belmopan where they will undergo five months of training at the Police Academy.
A.S.P. Elodio Aragon
“But these people we do accept will be of a higher standard when it comes to intellectual abilities, their height, physique, et cetera.”
Jacqueline Woods
“When does the actual training start?”
A.S.P. Elodio Aragon
“We are hoping to start training very shortly, maybe within the next two weeks time. The process isn’t long, but it is a lot of work because we are on this everyday. From the beginning we are on, trying to get their physical, their medical and their vetting, then we get the right people in.”
Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
Those applicants who were unsuccessful will be permitted to try again in the next intake.
