Of course, a big part of that appealing to the public involves the media. But, the police have been giving that same media the cold shoulder recently.
In March of this year, the press and the police hammered out a working compromise where they would facilitate all requests for information, so that we could better inform the public.
The rule was that all requests for interviews from ranking police officers would be considered on a case by case basis by the Commissioner.
Well, for 2 exactly weeks now, the top brass have been consistently refusing all interview requests - in total about one dozen requests, all denied.
So, since these refusals were supposedly coming from his office directly, the media asked the Commissioner if there has been a shift in the rules for press engagements:
Reporter
"Today we are asking for interviews again for the Spanish Lookout incident, again it's been denied. Can you say why? Is there a reason why the department has stopped giving any interviews or briefs to the media."
Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police
"Well, I haven't had a discussion with the officer who was holding over. So, what you are telling me, I would have to find out what is happening. I haven't had a discussion on that."
Reporter 2
"I think, generally speaking, because of all the controversies over the last few weeks, as my colleague said, the department has maintained, what we would call, radio silence and it has somewhat affected our coverage of recent murders in Belize City, in fact, across the country, really. We do get information but not for a visual medium."
Allen Whylie
"Okay, I was worried. I thought the press officer within the department wasn't passing on sharing information."
Reporter
"No, it's really, strictly just the interviews."
Allen Whylie
"I'll look into it. That's all I can say at this time."
We note that he refusal of interview requests began on the same day that the Eastern Division Southside Commander, senior Superintendent Marco Vidal, landed in hot water for his comments referencing his predecessor, Chester Williams.
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