With the shift in the command of the police department, Edward Broaster moved up to the Deputy Commissioner of Police with responsibility for national operations. Broaster held that position once before as Assistant Commissioner. So what is his strategy going forward with the mandate of the police department to deal with crime? Edward Broaster, […]
Broaster also spoke about the plan to erect a live crime centre in Belmopan that will be used to address criminal activities on the streets. Several units of the department will be forged together to create this rejuvenated team to track police’s property as well as the location of officers. The Deputy Commissioner says that […]
There were one hundred and forty-four murders in 2018; thirty-eight of those were directly related to nightclubs or bar incidents. The rest was split between gang rivalries and domestic disputes. The latter, in recent times, has gradually become a prevalent motive behind homicides across the country. Earlier this week, there was a meeting between representatives […]
The third in a series of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States workshop on citizen security is being held in Belize. The two-day event opened today at the Biltmore in Belize City and brings together over fifty representatives from countries across Central America, Latin America and the Caribbean. The […]
Earlier this week, the Commissioner of Police Chester Williams said he intended to reduce the murder count to below one hundred per year. The last time that happened was in 2013 when ninety-nine persons were murdered. To many, the proposed dip seems overambitious. Today, his boss, National Security Minister John Saldivar was lauding Williams’ approach […]
Two weeks ago, drug plane whistleblower, Edward Vincent Martinez held a press conference in Belize City providing details of illegal landings in the Jewel. While his commitment to a follow-up briefing with evidence has not happened, aerial footage of a suspected drug plane landing has been leaked to a Mexican media house. The aerial footage […]
The new ComPol, Chester Williams has been making his media rounds and connecting with the department he is now heading and depending on to carry out his agenda to reduce the murder count that has placed Belize as one of the most murderous countries. Today, he convened the first senior officers conference at the Police […]
In his exit speech last week, former ComPol Allen Whylie spoke about the undermining of his authority and the rivalry within the department. Whylie ranted that the media and the Opposition had worked against him leading up to his abrupt departure from the force. ComPol Williams says he is taking a new approach to unite […]
It’s been a while since senior police officers from across the country would converge to be debriefed and plan strategically for the future. Today, the first all-senior officers’ conference under the leadership of the new Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was held at the Police Training Academy. It will now be held twice a year […]
One of the biggest challenges for the police department is what seems to be a never-ending battle against crimes, particularly murders. It has been the Achilles’ heel for most commissioners of police though the crime rate continues to spiral. In 2018 alone, the murder count was one hundred and forty-two, the highest since 2012’s one […]
As we’ve reported, the changes within the command of the police department have seen Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett now in charge of the Special Patrols Unit of the Police Department. He is being replaced by Superintendent Daniel Arzu, who was the Commander of Operation ACT. Now Gillett was known for his strong community policing skills […]
Three suspect ATM scammers, all South American nationals, were arraigned in the Belize Magistrate’s Court this afternoon. Chilean Juan Espinosa Saaveria, Colombian Edgar Vargas Vaca and Peruvian Luis Robles Marroquin were in police custody since Thursday. Today, they were charged for preparation of a crime and appeared before Senior Magistrate Patricia Arana. While all three […]
Police say that they are in possession of sufficient evidence to have brought charges against the South American trio. According to police, at least one of the men has visited Belize several times prior to them being arrested and they have been following the activities of the men since last year before making arrests last […]
The Customs Department and Belize Coast Guard carried out a joint operation on Friday morning at a contraband hotspot near San Victor Village, up north. The operations netted a big bust coming from Mexico by way of the Rio Hondo River and into Belize. Two skiffs carrying unaccustomed goods of Mexican beers, sodas, flour, footwear, […]
There was another bust by the Coast Guard in another hotspot. It happened on Sunday morning about eighteen miles north of San Pedro Town. That patrol led to the discovery of a gun, ammunition and marijuana. The Belize Coast Guard says that its Infantry Marine Unit was on routine patrol in Northern Ambergris Caye near […]
There was a shooting over the weekend on Ebony Street, Belize City for which several persons remain in police custody. But that is as far as it goes because according to police, the victim of the shooting that occurred on Sunday afternoon has refused to cooperate with authorities. Police opted not to comment on what […]
Four American and Canadian tourists were robbed at gunpoint of their belongings and money at the El Pilar Archaeological Site in Cayo. The Maya monument is located about seven miles southwest of Bullet Tree Village. Just after midday on Sunday, San Ignacio police were called out to the site where alleged Guatemalan bandits had attacked […]
There were only a few violent incidents that occurred over the weekend in Belize City. Robberies continue to be a perennial challenge that the Police Department has been grappling with. Over the weekend, two men were hit by robbers in the city. A contractor from Cisco Constructions was robbed of five thousand dollars in cash […]
On Saturday night police also responded to a robbery on Cemetery Road in south side Belize City. Latino’s Barbershop was targeted by armed thieves who relieved two men of three hundred and ten dollars when they entered the barbershop. No one has been detained in connection with the crime, but police say they are following […]
Police have detained three foreigners suspected of credit card scams carried out at ATM machines across the country. Not much is known about the individuals at this time, but police are working with Interpol to gather more information on the suspects. What we do know, however, is that the three men—a Colombian, a Peruvian and […]
Two persons were charged with handling stolen goods in connection with the aggravated burglary that happened at Elodio Aragon Senior’s house last week. Renold Hernandez and Rachel Lawrence were jointly charged for the offence. While Aragon Senior reported that his SUV was stolen, today police wouldn’t disclose what items were found in Hernandez and Lawrence’s […]
It’s been one week since forty-eight-year-old Evan Neal has not returned home. The veteran seaman and owner of Mapp Caye went to deliver some groceries for his two workers on the caye last Friday and did not make it back. As we reported, the Belize Coast Guard and police discovered one of his workmen Edinio […]
Earlier this week, the family of missing woman Anisha Young said they believe she is dead. The family indicated that they want to speed up the process of testing the DNA to get some closure on the matter. Today, ASP Alejandro Cowo told the media that the authorities have not had any further clues into […]
This week we reported on the shooting of thirty-five-year-old Anthony Crawford. He was shot sometime after nine on Monday night while he was riding his bicycle on Antelope Street Extension. Crawford was shot in the chest and tonight he remains in critical condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Today, police say that their investigation […]
ASP Alejandro Cowo also spoke on a shooting on Currasow Street in Belize City which occurred this morning. Shortly after eight-thirty, hots were fired at a vehicle, but fortunately the occupants inside escaped unhurt. Police say this shooting is also connected to gang rivalry. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City “The information we […]
