Cyril Garcia is a Belizean American who's currently visiting the country he calls home.
But last night the California resident got a sharp reminder that home is not only where the heart is, sometimes it can be where the "hurt" is.
He was leaving a graduation last night and made a mistake that many do, he drove "up-stop" on Mapp Street. That street was recently changed to only allow traffic in one direction.
It was a mistake by a man not completely familiar with the in's and out's of Belize City. But he came upon a police patrol that changed his perception of law and order in Belize.
He told Monica Bodden more today - as she accompanied him to the police department to make a complaint:..
Cyril Garcia, Claims Police Harrasment
"Upon heading home I made an illegal turn accidentally, Belize has poor signage by the way. I was not even deep into the road just yet - the one way street and I saw this truck coming up to me, I didn't know it was the police and they appeared as though they were trying to put me to a halt. I stop, I later realize that it was the police, so before I could even put my head out and ask what happen, what's the problem, why are you guys stopping me - about 3 of them came out with guns and started demanding of me to come out of the truck in a very unwelcoming tone. I felt very violated, I felt harass and its was so un-necessary - they came with brute force. As soon as I came out the vehicle and realize that I was driving up stop I sense more or less that that's what I did. So, I came out very apologetic, my tone was calm, soft, I address them as officer because I've dealt with people all over the world from the grassroots to presidents to business owners - I know how to deal with people. I was very calm and collect, I informed them that I've been away from a long time."
"I use to look out for maybe a thug trying to rob me, looking in my rear view mirror to see if anyone is stalking me but now I also got to be concern of the policeman - making an illegal turn or driving up stop and being harass by the people who are supposed to serve and protect me. It was a very bitter experience."
"When I see a man in khaki shirt and blue pants with stripes - I no longer see someone approaching me to protect me, I see a criminal - I see a criminal in uniform and badge. I have no respect for such people. I have zero respect."
We also got a response from the police press officer. Here is what he had to say about Garcia's complaint:..
Raphael Martinez - Police Press Officer
"First of all whenever our police officers go out there we do expect professionalism from them. We, working in the police department, nobody is above the law and as a matter of fact we should operate in such a way that we respect the dignity of others and that's from the Ministry's level; that's from the police department commissioner and his other senior officers level that everybody should respect the law. Whenever there is a breach of that protocol; whenever a police officer acts unbecoming or does something that is not in tandem with what he should be doing, there is a procedure."
Monica Bodden
"Are you guys doing any training just to have these officers have a different approach when they approaching citizens?"
Raphael Martinez - Police Press Officer
"The entire approach of the police department is what is called the community policing philosophy that all police officers should uphold but people being what they are and I would be the first to say that we do have some bad apples in our midst and as I mentioned the last time from our Minister and Commissioner of Police - they mentioned this that we want to get these type of rogue officers out of the department."
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