Police training....judging by the number of complaints of abuse and maltreatment we get you might think that there isn't much of it going around. But truth is most police officers are not complained about, do not bad-act, and do not make the news for doing their job the right way. And that's what the police department is trying to encourage with the specialized training of a corp of officers who may be able to rehabilitate the image of an institution once respected for its polish and professionalism. I found out more at the training school in Belmopan yesterday....
Jim McFadzean, Reporting
"There is some movement to restore the image of the once proud Police Department as an elite bunch of 37 non-commissioned officers culled mostly from the criminal investigative branch, undergo an intensive 8 week training session at the Police Training Academy, where Mexico is providing vital expertise."
Marcelino Choco, Inspector of Police
"The people attending this week's training are undergoing an eight week intensive criminal investigation training an investigative interview is pertinent to that area. The interview is just one part of an investigation but I believe that if we can move to the other level in how we interview whether it be a witness, a victim or even a suspect. If we can raise that level of techniques I believe that we will be more successful we will have better case files, we will have more information more evidence and I believe that we can resolve more of the criminal activities."
And, more and more of those criminal activities Choco speaks about have links in narco-trafficking. With Mexico expressing concern about the growing influence and increasing presence of Mexican cartels in Central America, the government of Felipe Calderon says its committed to providing its neighbors with technical assistance especially in the area of fighting trans national crime.
Marcelino Miranda, Press Officer, Mexican Embassy
"We have to look at the regional level this is combating organised crime, it's a responsibility of all countries in the region. It's not only a responsibility of Belize, It's not only a responsibility of Mexico it's all the countries that have to take responsibility. That's the reason it's very important and this has been reached at the multi-lateral level, all these countries have agreed to cooperate between them, and within this engagement Mexico decided to support the effort of the government of Belize."
Mexico's Ministry of Public Security has sent two of its specialized experts in criminal law, an Attorney who specializes in criminal justice, and a Psychologist to facilitate the training at the Belize Police Academy.
Marcelino Miranda
"Having a psychologist and an attorney, it's going to give an advantage to the police officers in Belize because they are going to have a wide range of training not only in police matters but they are having the legal perspective and also the psychology aspect. The other advantage is that we have two specialists that have trained not only on the ground, in the field they have a lot of experience and also they have experience in the academic terms so this is an advantage. The police officers are going to have the advantage of taking these highly skilled instructors and to profit from this from their experience in order to also enhance the skills of the Belizean police officers."
Marcelino Choco
"This is one way you can see that training is happening. We have trained all supervisors, corporals and sergeants in the most basic areas of supervision and this is one specific area in which supervisors once more are brought to take this training so that when they get back to their different areas they are able to guide and to do the proper thing."
Jim McFadzean
"With a new Minister of Police at the helm promising to purge the force of all that is bad, these invaluable training exercises being provided by the Mexican Government should hopefully steer it in the right direction."
Email
Print