This afternoon at 1:00, the leaders of the Police Association, Corporal Eldon Arzu, and Detective Sergeant Edlin Lorenzo were both arraigned before a police tribunal at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan.
They were very vocal against the Police High Command last week about the rush transfers. According to the Ministry of National Security, both members were warned many times that it was unlawful for them to go to the press with their grievances.
Well, the Commissioner of Police and the ranking officers brought them up on disciplinary charges. Arzu was charged with being disrespectful to a superior officer, while Lorenzo was charged willfully disobeying a lawful command.
Reliable information to our newsroom is that the complainant is Superintendent Linden Flowers, the officer commanding the training academy.
The reasoning behind the charge against Lorenzo is reportedly that he was sent a text message on Monday, which indicated that he was to be in Belmopan along with other members of the Association to have a meeting with Commissioner of Police. This was apparently the time when the Commissioner was to tell them in person that all the privileges that they enjoyed as the Association - which included an office space - would be taken away.
That office space was officially taken away from them at the tribunal today.
Lorenzo will have to present himself before the tribunal again on August 7; Arzu is to reappear on August 9.
They were arraigned before Inspector Pook today, but at their next adjournments, Senior Superintendent Miguel Guzman will take over as adjudicator.
During this process, they will remain on interdiction.
And while they have been dealt with internally - the public cause is gaining momentum. The NTUCB plans to have a rally in support of them on Saturday.
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