Cop laid to rest; suspected killer still at large

Today, forensic photographer Police Corporal Fernando Rosado was laid to rest in San Ignacio with full honours. Rosado was shot and killed on Saturday at a home in the Sarstoon area of Belize City during a police operation meant to detain twenty-nine year old Kirk “Psycho” Thompson. Thompson, wanted for questioning in the murder of Gaylord’s security guard Bilee King and the murder of Chinese businessman Zhao Yi Xin, was subsequently identified by police as the triggerman who shot Rosado. Thompson has hinted to the press an inclination to turn himself in to police, but is fearful of how he will be treated. Tonight the Belizean public is not sympathetic to the suspected cop killer.

Citizen #1

“Some of the Belize police are very arrogant. I’m not saying that anybody should kill a police, but you have to look on the other side. Some of these guys on the street look at the police as the enemy. But personally, I think it’s wrong.”

Citizen #2

“We all know that the hanging would work and it seems like there will be nothing to get done about that.”

Citizen #3

“Maybe they should be armed on the streets. I don’t know, but they have to protect themselves more. They have to be on the lookout some more, because the guys out there are really armed and they’re coming after you.”

Citizen #4

“I feel bad about it, because it’s one of our Belizean police. But we the public need to get out there and assist the police as well. The fact remains that things should be better in our community.”

Citizen #5

“What the law will do about it. I cannot tell them what to do about it, but they know what they’re supposed to do. And until they do what they’re supposed to do, then the situation gets worse.”

Citize #6

“In any society that becomes very predatory, it’s just a matter of some are the prey and some are the preying. Sometimes the police are the prey and sometimes they are prey. It doesn’t excuse what happened. What happened is terrible, but there are reasons that these things happen.”

Citizen #7

“We are here to help the police too, because a lot of crimes are taking place and some of us in the streets hide it and that’s what cause more problems. So by helping the policeman, that would be nice.”

Ann-Marie Williams

“Cause we help ourselves?

Citizen #7

“That’s right. And by helping them we will feel good and there will be less crime in the city of Belize.”

Citizen #8

“We have lost a lot when it comes to respect, when it comes to police. I think people on a whole should respect the police some more. Although I know sometimes the police has been blamed for a lot of things, but I think they’re still due a lot of respect.”

Up to newstime tonight Thompson is still at large.