COMPOL defends selection of new Commander for Special Branch

There are a number of changes being rolled out this week for commander positions across the country within the Belize Police Department. A notable change is that of the new Commander of Special Branch in the person of Senior Superintendent Sandra Bowden. As she takes over the post, she becomes the first woman to do so. On Monday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was asked about naming Bowden commander of this Special Branch Unit. The Special Branch is a unit of the B.P.D that gathers information or intelligence –a critical part of the national security of the country – so the question put to Commissioner Williams was whether Bowden was the best person for the job. Here’s how Commissioner Williams responded about naming Bowden as the Commander of the unit:

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Ms. Bowden is a very good worker. Ms. Bowden is a very committed. She is intelligent. She is educationally sound and she has the will to learn. So, I have no difficulty believing that she, being the first woman to head special branch, is going to do an exceptional job to head special branch. I honestly believe that the women we have in the higher echelon of the police department are extremely good at what they do. So, whoever is saying to you that Ms. Bowden this and Miss Bowden that…”

Reporter

“It’s just a matter of fact though, sir. She has never been an intelligence officer?”

Chester Williams

Chester Williams

“No. No. When you first became a reporter – were you ever a reporter before? No. I am sure. We all for the first time it will be the first time we do something. And based on our will to learn, our dedication and commitment we learn very quickly. I have not shied away from putting women in key places and whenever that occurs we get good results from them. So, I will emphasize the fact that putting Ms. Bowden as the first woman officer to head Special Branch is not a mistake and I am sure that she will turn out to be one of the best Head that Special Branch will ever have.”