Police officers undergo training at home and abroad

The Police Department has been taking a few licks the last few weeks, but it appears they are trying to improve their image in the eyes of the public. A number of police officers are presently undergoing several training courses including a few on human rights, both at home and abroad. The courses promise to enhance the capabilities of the Belize Police Department. Presently two sergeants, Isaias Sanchez and Robert Mariano are in Kingston, Jamaica. The policemen are attending the second international course for human rights and international humanitarian law for Central American and Caribbean countries. The course is being sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross and is looking at the methods and practices in human rights. The officers are expected back home on July seventh. Meanwhile just back from a three-day seminar are Assistant Commissioner of Police, Jose Zetina and Superintendent of Police, Yolanda Murray. Murray and Zetina had attended the Regional Seminar of Citizens Security in Central America, which was held in Antigua, Guatemala and was facilitated by the Inter American Institute of Human Rights. Meanwhile, ten police officers were just as busy at home, learning how to detect fraudulent documents and the pattern of illegal migration and other such matters. The training course was held at the Immigration Office in Belize City and was coordinated by the Canadian Immigration and Nationality Service. On July thirteenth and fourteenth, the National Women’s Commission will be sponsoring a training course based on the issue of domestic violence. Ten police officers are scheduled to attend that course which is being held at the Belize Institute of Management. The officers will be trained on how to better perform professionally when dealing with domestic problems.