Cop behind bars for ammunition conviction
Gino Peck
There was a sensational conviction in court today. A police corporal was convicted this afternoon inside the courtroom of Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith in a trial that began six months ago. The forty year old officer Gino Peck is looking at a minimum sentence of five years on each count for ammunition charges. The Gang Suppression Unit back in January 2012 busted Peck and found in his house, a nine millimeter pistol, point forty-five live rounds of ammunition, twenty-two cartridges and five live rounds of point thirty-eight ammunition. Following the bust, Peck was charged with Kept Unlicensed Firearm as well as Kept Unlicensed and Prohibited Ammunition . His wife, Loretta, was at home during the bust, but she was not charged and Peck was remanded in custody and then granted bail. In respect of the charge for the point nine millimeter ammunition, the police could not establish enough evidence to arraign him since Peck had been issued a corresponding firearm license. Before she found him guilty, the Chief Magistrate told the court that she had found discrepancies in his caution statement and testimony to support why he had so many rounds of ammo at his Curassow Street house. The Chief Magistrate was of the view that it was not proper for officers to take home ammunition or firearms. In Peck’s defense, his attorney Simeon Sampson argued that the ammo and firearm found at Peck’s house was because he was ready for combat, but the Director of Public Prosecution, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, made the case that the ammunition was not part of the police inventory and that Peck had not been issued the ammo. Peck, who has served in the police department for at least twenty-two years, is now in remand awaiting a mitigation plea which is set for Friday when he will be sentenced.
This is a BS story…….GINO PECK is one of the good guys in the BZE police force. HE had serve and put his life on the line for this nation for 22yrs, and this is the thanks that this country is showing him, by incarcerating him like a common criminal. For those who might say or argue that he got caught with excess ammo, and therefore he should do the time in jail, to u people I say look at his record for the past 22 years as an officer of the law and see what he has done for this country, I reckoned that you would see him in a different light i.e someone who is a genuinely good and light hearted individual. This is why I staunchly support revisiting BZE’S sweeping gun laws for the sole purpose of amending them, because laws like these always have collateral damage ……There are legitimately crooked cops in the rank and file of the BZE POLICE FORCE that should be put away, but GINO PECK is not one of them. It seems like the good guys are always the ones who are made to suffer. The PM needs to step in and pardon GINO PECK, b/c he is not a crook and he has done right by this country FOR ALL THESE YEARS.
Peck obviously dissed Marco and now he is feeling his wrath. This case has nothing to do with illegal possession. If that were the case then just three police officers would be on the street. I wonder if the magistrate knows that. Cheryl should have recused herself on the basis of a conflict of interest. This whole country needs to pass through the ethics transmogrifyer.
@NY isn’t this the same Gino Peck that was involved with a plane full of Chinese at the Phillip Goldson International Airport.
the most illiterate person could look at this case and see all the loop holes in it. this a personal matter from the top in GSU. Now Police officers need to stand together to show the solidarity behind a hard working person like Gino and all the years he have dedicate he needs to speak up let the people know why the GSU take this so personal against him.
IF YOU KINDA LOOK LIKE SPANISH OR ARE SPANISH YOU ARE VICTIM, YOU MUST BE BLACK TO HAVE YOUR FREEDOM IN THIS COUNTRY.
HELL….HOW MUCH GANG BANG GETTING MY HAAARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS FOR KILLING PEOPLE !!!!!!
Its not how they put you down squad–Its how you pull yourself up after.—the 2 head snake has its meaning–between a rock and a hard place we all make our lives and get treated like puppets and criminals even after swearing allegience–THE WORLD IS A BIG PLACE WITH MANY ROOMS-
When the gun laws was introduced I remember FEW citizens uproar to it ….. and also the opposition roared… the PUP was not as popular as it is now… NO ONE said a word… now when it touches your skin now people roar…and scream but STILL IN SILENT MODE. UNU that are saying laws need to change…. stand up and organize yourself… go north and learn from the cane farmers …. get some tips… it will NOT be an easy fight but you will send the message… many Belizeans will support you and I assure you at the end of the day it can be a case that the Chamber, Unions, Universities can speak on it openly… Stand up and speak no matter if you are a UDP or PUP or Religious Persons… you are suffering now… tomorrow can be me…
Of course this is bull shit. No crime was intended and no crime was committed. Police officers all over the country are exempted from gun laws. They are the good guys, it makes no sense that the government would go after a police officer who has a bullet or two over the limit. GO AFTER THE GUYS WHO ARE KILLING PEOPLE NOT COPS. The law must be changed. I am calling for and will lead a coup against stupidity. Come along and join me.
This is a clear message to the police department by the DPP that she rules and her man Vidal this could have been handle internally I see police officer who could be charge criminally for more serious offense their case is handle internal, but no Vidal and his wife DPP push and make sure it went to trial hell she even prosecute the case can you believe that . I say we stand and supper mr. peck and his family.
Maybe Police should stop working after things like these happen. Come on. . . The man was a hard working police and this is the thanks he gets for going head to head with criminals. Just pure bull shit!!!!