Tonight the anger in the rank and file of the police department is growing and resentment is simmering over the incarceration of Corporal 259 Gino Peck. As we have reported Corporal Peck is in jail awaiting sentencing after he was convicted for possession of ammunition on Monday.
It is a stunner because Peck is known as an upstanding officer, and a good many police have told us it is not unusual for police to have a few loose rounds in their residences at any given time.
But Peck has been convicted as if he were a civilian – and that has provoked outrage, anger and disappointment in many police officers. Well, tonight, the real shocker is that the senior command apparently feels the same way. The Police Press office issued an extraordinary statement today saying, quote:
"The Commissioner of police with the support of the Ministry of National Security hereby informs the public that the department will be supporting Corporal Peck fully, including payment of all legal fees in his appeal to his conviction on keeping unlicensed and prohibited ammunition."
It continues:
"The Belize Police Department is saddened by the manner in which the decision to proceed with criminal charges against Corporal Peck was made in January 2012 as the department is confident that it could have been properly dealt with through its own internal disciplinary process. Unfortunately, the department was not given the opportunity to handle this matter as they have customarily done. It is unfortunate that we are at a point where a long serving member of the department is facing a jail sentence for a matter that could have been handled internally." End quote.
Now, this is the statement from the department that arrests and charges accused persons. And in a statement which is the official position on the Peck case – that department is saying it is "saddened by the…decision to proceed with criminal charges." So who gave the order to proceed? And who is the Department pointing the finger at? That's what we asked Commissioner Allen Whylie at the police passing out in Belmopan today:
Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police
"We'll be issuing a press release very shortly on that situation, but I must say that I, as the Commissioner, am deeply saddened at the turn of events, and I am certain that the members of Belize Police Department are also disappointed at the results. I want to say that the Department will be fully supporting Corporal Peck, during this period. We'll be funding the entire fees for him for his legal appeal of his conviction. We're certain - or I believe - that the matter could have been handled differently. It was a matter that was before my tenure, when I took up the post, and as I said, we're deeply saddened. But, we'll be assisting him in his appeal, and we hope that the results will be different."
Daniel Ortiz
"We've been informed that it has created a sort of low morale amongst the rank and file of the officers, and it has sparked thoughts of a go-slow. Are you aware of this, and if that is indeed in the works, how do you plan to address with your officers?"
Allen Whylie
"Well, you know, the Police organization is a disciplined organization, and of course, we feel for Corporal Peck. He's a brother; he's in good standing. I thought that he was a very excellent and dedicated officer. And, of course, it's a department of over a thousand people. Everybody have their own feelings and opinions. We respect the law. I wouldn't be able to say that Mr. Peck was targeted. As I said, this incident occurred in 2012, long before I assumed the office of commissioner. What was done then, I am unable to say. Why what was done, I am unable to say. What I am saying is that we are here now in 2014. What has happened, has happened. We'll be supporting Mr. Peck in his legal defence. We'll be meeting all expenses for that, and we have got to learn from this. Yes, as police officers, from time to time, they do have ammunition in their possession. I believe that the matter could have been handled differently. I think that our internal system, our disciplinary system was strong enough that, if the decision had been taken and made at that time for the Department to deal with it. We would have dealt with it, and dealt with it adequately."
We note that Police Minister John Saldivar avoided the media today.
But, the circumstances of the case where the Department has stated its official opposition to criminal charges even being brought would seem to be an indictment of Superintendent Marco Vidal and the GSU who searched Peck's home and pressed for charges to be brought. Originally, the charges were set aside at the Commissioner's intervention, and then they were re-introduced. The case was later prosecuted by DPP Cheryl Lynn Vidal at Magistrate's Court. There are rumours that Superintendent Vidal is to be removed as the Commander of Special Branch –which is supposedly a cabinet decision – but we have confirmed that cabinet made no such decision. There is however, amongst the police rank and file much speculation about what prompted Vidal's GSU to search Peck's home. Vidal has maintained from the outset that they were acting on information.
Whatever the case, Peck's conviction will be appealed – and in its statement the department says, quote, "Should his appeal prove successful, the commissioner of police will then exercise his power to decide what internal disciplinary action will be levied against Corporal Peck in a manner that it should have been handled in the first instance."
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