ComPol Says “Good People” Will Get Stopped Depending on Area Crime “Demographics”
On Monday night, we told you the results of a racial profiling case heard in the Supreme Court. Justice Westmin James handed down a decision in the case brought against the Belize Police Department by Greg Nunez and Bryton Codd, two young black men. The judge ruled that it was unconstitutional for police to take pictures of the two men during a stop and search on August fourth 2020. The search yielded nothing, and the matter was taken to court. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams responded to the matter when questioned by host of Open Your Eyes, Marleni Cuellar.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“If it is that you have in a community, certain classes of people who are the ones that are giving trouble, who must the police, go after? Won’t it be them? In places like Orange Walk, Corozal, the demographics of people giving trouble is different than Belize City. And, you will find that in places like Belize City, for the most part, dah young black youths the police the interact with. In Orange Walk it will be young Hispanic people. In Punta Gorda, it will be young Mayan or young black people. So, it goes to the demographics of the area we are policing. And, the fact that the society has become so violent to some extent, the police have to do certain things. Now, the issue with Greg Nunez and Mr. Codd, they are upstanding people but the truth is, because of the fact that police interacts with so many people, there are going to be people that are going to get caught up in the whole issue with police.”
Chester Williams
Marleni Cuellar
“You are openly admitting that there is a class of people that must live under a threat, that they would be stopped and searched, not because they are involved in crime, or have been involved in crime, or looking to be involved in crime, but just because of how they look.”
Chester Williams
“No, Marleni you are stretching it too far. Gavin you are a black man, have you ever been stopped and searched by the police?”
Gavin Courtenay
“Not walking, but in driving I have actually.”
Chester Williams
“Exactly, so at the end of the day Marleni, when police are doing their work, like I said, there are going to be good people that they are going to stop, there are going to be bad people that they are going to stop.”
