Four Police Officer from Bladen Eleven are Dismissed

Four police officers who were arrested and charged following the landing of a drug plane on the Southern Highway near Bladen in November 2021 have been dismissed from the Belize Police Department.  According to ComPol Williams, the termination of their services was not solely the result of charges that were brought against the men.

Reporter

“Could we ask you about the four officers from the Bladen Eleven who were recently dismissed?  We saw it in the force department orders, could you speak about that?”

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Yes, as you rightly mentioned that these officers are part of the Bladen Eleven. Separate and apart from the accusation against them in respect to the Bladen plane landing, there are also a number of other reports against them.  And while yes, some of those matters are still before the court and they have been tried in tribunal in some instances and were acquitted, it is in our humble view that in light of all these allegations that surrounds these officers, and when you take that and put it alongside the public concern in respect of these officers, how the public sees them, it is not a good view for us.  So what I did was, I had wrote the officers and outlined to them the different allegations against them and asked them in light of these allegations, kindly show reasons why they should not be dismissed.  Again, it’s just a matter of ensuring that they are given an opportunity to be heard.”