Six weeks ago, we reported that ASP Mark Vidal had taken over Special Branch - while also retaining control of the GSU. Well, yesterday he shook up Belize City's Special Branch as it had never been shaken before, by ordering the immediate transfer of 14 officers to the patrol branch. That's - more than a quarter of the Department's manpower, gone in a one fell swoop. Incredibly, this includes the officer commanding and his deputy. So why the massive, unprecedented purge? In a statement today, Vidal told us that quote
"Some repostings were done as a first phase in restructuring and refocusing the Branch to become more efficient and effective in addressing the threats to national security."
He added that, quote, "It is also part of wider a Police Department's plan in the rolling out of the four Policing precincts at Eastern Division to more effectively police the communities affected by violent crimes."
And while that's the explanation he gave us - reports we've gotten say that those who were transferred weren't told anything. It's news because of the scale of the transfers and also because Special Branch Officers are rarely transferred, since they operate in a sensitive area.
We note that when Vidal assumed command, similarly, both the head and his Deputy of National Special branch were also transferred.
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