The 2019 Police Medals & Awards Ceremony

It was a formal occasion in Belmopan this morning. Outstanding police officers in the department were honoured for service and for excelling in recent exams.  Sergeant Leroy Hernandez has been in the line of duty for nineteen years, he also placed at the top of the recent police promotional exams. Today, he was gleaming with satisfaction and pride as he received his award.  News Five’s Duane Moody reports. 

Duane Moody, Reporting

This morning at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan, one hundred and forty officers dressed in their crisp uniforms paraded onto the courtyard. It was a proud moment for the officers as they were distinguished with medals for long and meritorious services; others received first and second clasps and then a number of them were awarded for their performance in the recent promotional exams that took place in May.

Dezerie Phillips

Dezerie Phillips, Assistant Commissioner of Police

“Today we are recognizing deserving police officers who have given dedicated and committed service to the government and people of Belize, the Belize Police Department for the past eighteen years, twenty-five years, thirty years and we also had our meritorious service award and the distinguished service award. When you are able to endure and remain in a service for this long period of time, it is only deserving and worthy for you to be recognized. And we ensure that whenever we celebrate Police Week, the medal and award ceremony happens to be one of the major highlights of the week.”

Sergeant Leroy Hernandez received two medals today; one for long service having been with the department for over eighteen years; he also placed first in the promotional exams.  He is attached to the Professional Standards Branch of the Belize Police Department.

Leroy Hernandez

Sgt. Leroy Hernandez, Long Service Awardee

“It is gratifying and I am very humble by the recognition given to me and I enjoy it for today. I have been with the department nineteen years.”

Duane Moody

“And today, you are officially promoted to a sergeant?”

Sgt. Leroy Hernandez

“I’m a sergeant and I should be getting an inspector. From the instant that you join the department nineteen years ago; that’s where the preparation begins and it is always an ever learning process. You never stop learning in this job and that’s what is gratifying about it.”

Assistant Superintendent of Police Gerald Jones is the deputy commander of the Community Policing Unit. He received the meritorious service medal for his twenty years with the department.

Gerald Jones

ASP Gerald Jones, Meritorious Service Awardee

“This is a medal that is bestowed on officers who have rendered twenty years and over within the department and have provided some form of special skills to the department and have maintained consistency in terms of the working performance, dedication and commitment. It is something quite rewarding because I am a member from the Police Youth Cadet Corps in 1994 and I rose through the ranks within the police department. It is a bit emotional for me because I know that we have fought a lot and gone through a lot when it comes to policing work. It is not an easy task, but only those who are strong will be able to survive and thirtieth of May I completed twenty years.”

Duane Moody for News Five.