Intake 95 – the Record Number of Police Recruits
Despite the high crime in Belize, or perhaps because they want to do something about it, today there was a passing out for a record number of police recruits. Duane Moody was on hand for the happy occasion celebrating the successful completion of their training.
Duane Moody, Reporting
The largest number of recruits to join the Belize Police Department graduated from the six-month program at the Training Academy in Belmopan today. It was a proud moment for the new police officers who will be deployed across the country, majority in Belize City.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Belize City gets ninety-seven; the others are shared across the country where every formation, sub-formation are given at least ten. In some instances, we have twelve of the new graduates. None of them are going to any specialised units because as a part of our recruitment process now, we do not said newly graduated recruits to specialised unit. We send them to the general body so that they can go and learn policing before they can be recruited into specialised units.”
The training this time around was different. With the introduction of a Dean of Academics at the training school, the standard of officers now inducted into the department is expected to enhance policing across the country.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“During the past six months that these recruits have been in training with us, they went through vigorous training in different disciplines and aspects of policing. They did criminal law, they did traffic law, they did human rights, they did constitution and every other aspect of the law with a view to ensure that they are brought up to standard. It is the most qualified squad that we have ever recruited. It is the first time in the history of our police training school or academy that every single recruit who passed out today successfully completed the training which means that they passed. In the past, when we have recruits who failed, they were still allowed to graduate. But this time, we said no if it is that you want to walk through the gates of this compound having completed your training, you must pass the academic and you must pass the FTO aspect of training and I am proud to see that we have achieved that.”
Some recruits were expelled and sent home for committing irregularities during the in-service – or on the job – aspect of training. During today’s ceremony, twelve of the recruits were awarded for their top performance in the written exam, shooting skills, physical training; best in human rights, first aid and field training officer program. Coming out on top with the Baton of Honor was PC2475 Earlwin Teul.
Earlwin Teul
Earlwin Teul, Baton of Honor
“I have never placed first in anything so I am very honoured to have had this experience. I want to thank all those who made this possible, who gave me the strength and knowledge that I needed. From the instructors to my squad brothers in dorm C, especially those in room four; my classmates in class A, my family, especially my mother, Candelaria Teul. As well thank you to the commandant and the deputy commandant, the chief instructor and all the instructors who sacrifice to make Squad 95 possible.”
Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa gave some advice to the new police officers.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Some of you will become police officers and some of you will be the officers that policing will become. Those that will become police officers will simply become cynical and jaded, collecting a pay check every fifteenth and ending. But those that will become the future of policing in Belize will be the ones who are constantly searching out doubt, rethinking their place and injecting their next generation smarts into the job.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
