Police visit “hotspots” in P.R. campaign
In case you haven’t noticed, this is Police Week… and while the press/police relationship is not always a love affair this morning the positive vibrations extended to journalists and the public as well. The occasion was a P.R. visit to some of the city’s more notorious neighborhoods. News Five’s Hyacinth Latchman went along for the ride.
Superintendent Yolanda Murray
“Normally we’re out raiding the hotspots in normal police activities. I say that because at the hotspots it’s where we have a lot of people selling drugs, criminal activities going on. During Police Week we try to take a special day where we actually go out there and talk to the young men especially who hangout at these hotspots because we really want them to turn their lives around and to be different people in our society not criminals but law abiding people within society.”
Occasionally, according to Murray, some of these citizens mistakenly think that the police are coming to arrest them, but that’s not the case today.
Superintendent Yolanda Murray
“The response has been good. Law abiding citizens even people from the hangout areas have been talking to us and they have been responding pretty good.”
Good enough for some residents to open their doors and give the cops their seal of approval.
Dembi Ardinette
“I will help the policemen. I will help them on the streets and I will try to prevent crime.”
Julie Garbutt
“I’m feeling good about this. I would always want this to be going on you know, more than one time, not just one time to keep the alley cool and fine.”
After taking a look at some problem areas in Belize City the police caravan took time out to do some sharing at the Sister Cecelia Home for the elderly.
Ins. Louise Willace
“Today we are entertaining the elderly. We are here at Sister Cecelia’s Home. We will be serving them lunch. We will also be entertaining them. We will be dancing with them.”
Hyacinth Latchman for News Five.
Other activities during Police Week include visits to the Hattieville Senior Citizens Home and Rockview Hospital.
