Top Cop Marco Vidal Suspended for 60 Days with Pay

Marco Vidal

News Five has confirmed that A.C.P. Marco Vidal has been suspended for sixty days with pay.  Information is that the Security Services Commission, chaired by Charles Gibson, met and approved a course of action going forward involving the embattled senior cop.  A suspension letter was issued – copied to the Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa and his C.E.O., Kevin Arthurs; as well as Commissioner of Police Chester Williams. The decision was that Vidal was suspended effective December thirteenth for sixty days; during this time, an investigation will be undertaken and a formal case against Vidal will be presented to the Security Services Commission for a tribunal on his alleged administrative misconduct.  An additional thirty days suspension may be granted if required by the Ministry of Home Affairs.  A.C.P. Vidal was removed as Operations Commander for the Belize Police Department in early November when police officers, under his command, were arrested during a drug plane landing in the south. He was relegated to a desk job and Assistant Commissioner of Police Alford Grinage took over as Operations Commander. The Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told News Five he will be issuing a statement on Wednesday.