Since Allen Whylie took command of the Police Department on January 9, 2013, he has not made any public appearances to give updates as to the changes he's been making to the command structure of the department.
But as we showed you, there was a paradigm shift 6 days later in which the different police departments had to meet performance targets. It is a strategy in which the officers from different stations around the country must actively work to decrease crimes in their jurisdiction. The most effective formation commanders are recognized and awarded with cash prizes at monthly intervals.
Also, there is an ongoing restructuring of the Special Branch as part of the department's initiative to try to improve information efficiency.
Today, the new Commissioner broke the silence and announced a new strategy for policing in Belize City. Daniel Ortiz has that report.
Daniel Ortiz Reporting
Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie took command of the Police Department in January of this year. Based upon his assessment over the past few weeks, he has come to the conclusion that as the Department currently is organized, it is ineffective at performing its duties and obligations to the public.
Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police
"We cannot be satisfied in terms of the status quo, and the way how things have been done in the past. And whilst there will be pit falls, challenges and difficulties, rest assured that we firmly believe that the senior leadership level, that these changes are for the betterment of the department as well as the services to the nation."
As a result, the policing zones of the country have been re-constructed to ensure that the daily administration of the different police departments is being controlled by very senior officers. The idea is that the public will be able to hold the most experienced and long-standing members of the department to task as the different police stations deliver service. They have been reorganized into 4 different policing regions based on the country's quadrants.
As such, the Commander of the Northern Region is now Sr. Supt. Joseph Myvette; ACP Miguel Segura will command the Eastern Region.
Supt. Aaron Guzman will Command the Western Region while Sr. Supt. Robert Mariano takes command of the Southern Region.
But the biggest change comes from the way the Eastern Division - now a part of the Eastern Region - will be dealt with strategically. Statistically, Belize City, which is a part of this region, has always been a great challenge to the law and order that the Police Department seeks to realize.
Recruit Squad #88, comprising of 130 new officers who are about to graduate and pass out into the Police department will be almost fully absorbed into the Eastern Police Region. The Commissioner of Police explained that it is in line with a new system of policing for Belize City.
Allen Whylie
"100 of these recruits have been posted to Eastern division. It's unprecedented; it has never happened before, but we believe that with the deficiency we face, this infusion will lead to the kind of positive results. And that recruit - 100 recruits are going into precincts, which is the new concept of policing we're doing within Belize City. We have established 4 police precincts across Belize City. One of those precincts - precinct 1 is located at the corner of Cut Avenue and Euphrates Avenue, and that precinct is under the command of Superintendent Alden Dawson. We have precinct 2 which is established at the lower flat of this police headquarters building, and the commander for that precinct is Superintendent Alford Grinage. We have precinct 3 which is at the lower flat of what was the former patrol branch building at Queen Street, and the commander for precinct 3 is Superintendent Gualberto Garcia. And we have precinct 4 which is located at the existing Belama police station, and the commander for that precinct is Assistant Superintendent David Chi."
According to Whylie, this change improves their services to the public because each precinct will have the ability to deal with all reports instead of having to divert complainants to the Queen Street Police Station. The Department seeks to improve relationships with the different communities and as a result, each precinct will have 4 quadrants which will be responsible to foster the development of more citizen based initiatives such as citizen patrols, neighborhood watches, and community coalitions.
It is a big task to try to mend fences with the communities which are distrustful of a department which they perceive to be corrupt and abusive. As a result, the Commissioner is sending a clear statement about officer discipline.
Allen Whylie
"To signal my commitment to the citizens, we also - this administration is serious about the issues of complaints against police and allegations of unprofessional behavior. I have made conscious efforts to strengthen the work of the Professional Standards Branch, and I have - and I hope that my appointment of a very senior officer to that branch will signal to the nation, as well as internally to my police colleges, that I am very serious. I have appointed Assistant commissioner of police Mr. Noel Leal to that branch."
The Department is calling on the community to sign up for citizen cooperation. The Commissioner is hoping that in the first instance, at least 100 volunteers will step forward.
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