To Solve Crime, Gain Public’s Trust Again

Williams has been hailed as a key proponent of the community policing mode of operation. He has been credited with a reduction in major crimes when he was commander of Eastern Division (South), before being transferred to head the Professional Standards Branch desk in Belmopan. Now as Deputy Commissioner for Operations, Williams says it is imperative to get a handle on the crime situation by regaining the public’s lost trust, while also showing a firm hand with the rebels of the criminal element.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Deputy Commissioner, Operations

“Inasmuch as yes, I am known for a ‘mano suave’, I can also be known for a ‘mano duro.’ The thing is that as a law enforcement officer, I try to see how I can adjust to the situation. But I’m not going to be naïve and think that we will be able to arrest the situation without that public support. Now what many people seem don’t to understand is that community policing is not a philosophy of policing that is built to be soft on criminals. Community policing is to be used as a confidence building measure for the police, in the sense that police should use that tool to able to go out, court the public and get the public to be able to support the police. Now, if we want to succeed in achieving [a reduction in] crime, one of our greatest challenges is the fact for some reason or the other, the public have lost trust and confidence in us. And for us to be able to move forward, we must be able to gain the public’s trust and confidence and that is one of my number one priority. Once we gain the public’s trust and confidence, then we will arrive at a situation where the public will feel free, feel confident in working with us, in giving us information. And that will then assist us in having the public joining forces with us, to flush out those persons who want to create havoc within their communities.”