Commissioner of Police denies rumors of police death squad
Crispin Jeffries
This morning the Ministry of National Security revealed the results of its inquiry into the allegations made against the Belize Police Department in its handling of the Christopher Galvez murder. But that case wasn’t the only issue that the ministry had to address. The circumstances surrounding Teddy Murillo murder are also casting aspersions at members of the police department. Rumors which would have only spread in the Murillo’s neighborhood were sent across the country through text messages and emails and directed serious allegations even at Crispin Jeffries, the Commissioner of Police. The minister of National Security admitted that the rumors are giving him more gray hairs while the ComPol confirmed that the officer who was near the scene of Murillo’s murder had a mask in his possession and it was taken away by his supervisor. ComPol Jeffries went one step further when he addressed the rumor which accused him of being in control of a police death squad.
Crispin Jeffries, Commissioner of Police
“There are rogue elements within the Police Department and we’ve done our best in the past. A predecessor of mine mister Ornell Brooks did some dramatic things and it got some dramatic effects. So we’ve got to be careful how we operate. I don’t have a death squad. I don’t have a death squad. I’ve made my comment; I don’t have a death squad. The department does not have a death squad.”
Jose Sanchez
“Today the Adventist schools have closed schools because of the murder of Teddy Murillo and of course, the rumor, the talk is that someone wearing the badge may have been related to the incident.”
Carlos Perdomo, Minister of National Security
“It worries me a lot definitely because we have to ensure that police officers are not even associated with that kind of rumor. It worries me plenty; gives me gray hair but another part that worries me is that citizens have a right to say anything that they want to say—this is a democratic country—but far too often when these incidents arise, there are many statements and accusations, many text messages, many messages on the email that don’t have factual back up to it. So it complicates the whole issue and sometimes it’s like a trial by electronic devices where the person that is accused is sentenced, he’s called a killer, he’s called a murderer, they say that Mister Jeffries has hit squads, they call people names. So I really worry and I will ensure that we deal with those police officers but we also have to ensure that these things are factual.”
Crispin Jeffries
“We got some allegation on some part of the officer. Incidentally he was going to his very own home and he is alleging he went there to collect personal property. And he was only in the vicinity of others who felt threatened by him coming around and they made allegations. The current situation is that that officer lives on the very same block, just around the lane from the Murillo family. I haven’t gone to see exactly where. But I know he does live in the general vicinity. I’ve had several discussions with the mother who expressed her concerns. And I have said to her in no uncertain terms that I too have spoken to the senior officer to tell him try to find some place to move away from that location temporarily until this matter is resolved.”
Jose Sanchez
“The issue of officers being found with masks, or even wearing masks for that matter. What is the official position?”
Crispin Jeffries
“The official position is that the Belize Police Department has not adopted the use of a mask as a part of its every day kit. However, we have several officers being trained jointly with the Belize Defense Force Special Operation group who are trained to use masks. This specific officer seen with a mask is not one of those officers and we will deal with it.”
Jose Sanchez
“But for the regular person on the street being found with a mask; how would an officer who comes upon that person, treat that individual?”
Crispin Jeffries
“There are many instances where persons are found with items: stockings, warm caps with holes and it is simply taken away. They are not arrested and charged. Occasionally, when we find those persons we believe in certain circumstances that are likely to be suspected or are suspected they may be dealt with differently.”
The commissioner said that the officer who was found with the mask is still on active duty and reiterated that no one has seen him commit a crime.
When you cannot be safe in a counrty as small as Belize and with a population so little….All the animals hurting people , killing people, hurting children, robbing hard working people, who have no mercy on the innocent, yet you mourn for them?What we need is to bring back hangings.These animals have no fear.We need to put fear into thier hearts.When you find a cockroach in your kitchen.. show it compasion.Or a rat eating your cheese…There should be no mercy for these animals who have our citizens living in fear.
I’m sorry but, to me as a Belizean, Mr. Jeffries has lost all credibility. What the heck was the officer doing with the mask, and why does his supervisor not question that fact? Maybe there isn’t an official death squad but Mrs. Schackron is still getting threatened in the Chris Galvez case so SOMETHING is going on. There are some running around with badges, guns, and no self control; and instead of holding useless press conferences, the ComPol’s focus should be to weed them out.
That dont even sound like commissioner Jefferies, it looks like he need to sit where the minister is sitting and the minister need to go home, he dont have a clue what he is talking about. That investigating team need to be investigated there selves. People police is going to win everytime home or abroad. But what Belize Ministry need to know is that your news hit the net and the whole world se this sh… , the police corruption is worst than the you tube documentary.
I am a victim of police brutality!! stuff that i saw regarding …. is true. even …. once told me about a death squad in jamaica! were they go around killing suspicious gang member or street figures to slow crime down!! He said he went to take that same training!! That why i had to leave my block!! victoria st. he said iam part of the problem, guest galvest was too. so bawl …. ur criminal behavior will fall.
Jefferies need fi step down ,he’s not not doing his job control his ppls. The Prime Minister need fi do something about it. Police deh gun down innocent ppl. Corruption
what a pity, the introduction of TV in our country change our lives completely, in my younger days ,years ago people use to behave different, now is sad to say this but thing will get worse, the word of God say in the last days the love of many will die Off, they will be lovers only of themselves, but there is still hope cause the word of God say murderers shall not enter the knigdom of God, let the creator of heaven and earth be the judge, and if our police department has a death squad then they better start to pray, cause disaster in over their head!!!! unless they repent and confessed their sin.
Jefferies has alway been an advantagous person. What our youths need to do , is stop shooting up each other and start shooting the police when u see them in the wrong place !!!!
Mellow Belizean,
You are so right!
GOD please Bless everyone that is supporting my family in these hard times.
The truth will come to light.
All I’m going to say on this issue is that the United Nations needs to get involved here in Belize. The Belize government investigating the police department or any other crime is like a child pleading his/her case to his/her abuser, basically it’s not going anywhere the abuse is going to continue. Commissioner Jefferies, not everyone is in the dark about you, I know about you and what you do to your own Belizean people God is going to punish you, turning young kids into murderers may God have mercy on your soul.
Lets say Jefferies have a murder squad….wouldnt it make sense that the police that carried out hits for him felt free to kill whoever they pleased as well. After all they know they would never be arrested for killing anyone since their boss already had them kill who they wanted dead.
Be careful people of Belize if you say the wrong thing to the wrong police office you may just get gun down and that officer may already know they will get off….as they really have to one to answer to.
Blah Blah Blah! The Belizeans need to take the law in their own hands and start taking them out.
Rizzo,
I hate to see it go that way, Belizeans taking the law into their own hands and taking them out but….who know what will happen if no justice is served. Just how much more of this kinda thing do you think the people can take. Police killing our babies. Its sick! The police man name is everywhere, so many people has called him out. We all know he killed Teddy at this point. Tell me what kind of man know that a mother and father is crying out saying that he killed their son and does not respond to the family or the people of Belize??? This policeman has never publicly said….”Ididnt do it” or “Im sorry to hear what happen, but it wasnt me”. All we here is you dont have any withnesses willing to come forward. I will tell you what kind of man….a guilty murdering bastard!!! Everyone of you Belizeans that are tired of the way things are in Belize….write to the United Nations and tell them what madness is going on. Tell them about all the kills that are going on by hands of police men. The more of us to speak up the better. If you saw the murder of Teddy or any other person by police and was afraid to tell….write to the United Nations and tell them all about it. At this piont we can help ourself by coming together and all writingthe UN so they can come into Belize and set things right. the website is http://www.un.org