U.S. Embassy Makes Significant Donation to Belize Police Department

The United States Embassy in Belize handed over a significant donation to the Belize Police Department today in Belmopan. The donation, which is estimated at a little under one million U.S. dollars will certainly bolster the department’s crime fighting efforts, if used effectively. It includes buildings, vehicles, and a number of other equipment used within the department on a daily basis. News Five’s Paul Lopez was in Belmopan this morning. He filed the following report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

This is a state-of-the-art CompStat office situated inside a newly constructed building which the United States Embassy in Belize handed over to the Belize Police Department this morning in Belmopan.

Michelle Kwan, U.S Ambassador to Belize

Michelle Kwan

“As the government supplies in the United States have worked together to expand and advance. Comparative statistics or simply CompStat police management model this building is a real physical representation of your progress in all areas of policing. These are areas, or these areas are crucial to the ultimate success of Belize’s goal to reduce crime and increase the confidence of the citizens of Belize and in the Police Department. The core of our work together with the Belize Police Department is helping to Increase its professionalism.”

The Commissioner of Police says that this CompStat Office will be essential in the Belize Police Department’s crime fighting efforts. One of its uses will be to provide live data from across the country to guide regional commanders in the deployment of their resources.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“This building is going to house one representative from each region. So we have one from the Southern region, one from the Western region, one from the northern region. And when it comes to Belize City, we have four divisions in Belize City. So we’ll have one from each division as well. So when something is occurring within your particular region or division, there comes that officer here can then notify the commander on the ground. We’re seeing this pattern. We’re seeing this trend. Burglaries happen in this area, robberies are happening here. And with that, then the commander will be able to see you know what, this is our problem era, so let us concentrate our resources here.”

While it is customary to think of policing as boots on the ground, in the digital age, information is a vital part of the Belize Police Department’s response and preventative endeavours. But, for this high-tech system to be effective, the officers manning it must be competent in its functions.

Chester Williams

“We have upped the level of qualification for our recruits. We have recruited a number of well qualified persons and separate and apart from that a number of our officers who may have came in with a lower level of education have gone back to school and now have a higher level of education. And so the Police Department is pretty much well educated. And so these equipment that we are seeing here is nothing new to some of these officers. What we try to do is that. For the vacant post, when we know the building was going to be inaugurated, we advertise the posts within our ranks and for qualified person to apply.”

This latest investment from the U.S. Embassy comes at a cost of eight hundred and eighty-three thousand U.S. Dollars. The donation also includes four prefabricated office buildings, office equipment, four pickup trucks, and one van.

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“At our research, planning, legal affairs and compliance branch, we are receiving a total of two prefab buildings complete with office furniture, computers, desktops and laptops with software, along with one vehicle. At our Professional standards Branch, PSB, which is the unit responsible for the internal discipline of police officers, they will be receiving a donation of 1 prefab office building along with computers and office furniture. Three vehicles for immediate deployment of two PSB offices, all district in the northern, southern and Western regions. Thirdly, our in service training unit, which is the department’s newest unit for training, planning and support, they will be receiving a donation of 1 prefab building 96 rules of crime scene tips.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez