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Will 'Cowboy' Be Back On His Saddle In The PD?

posted (April 21, 2004)

And even with the pumped up image, it's been a rough year so far for the police department.

There was an officer charged for killing a San Pedro fisherman, another officer charged for sodomizing a boy and just Monday a new recruit was charged for having sex with an under aged girl.

Top Cop Zetina says to err is human. The commissioner also told Keith Swift what will be the faith o the PD's poster boy for bad behaviour constable Kevin "cowboy" Alvarez who was last week cleared of manslaughter charges.

Keith Swift,
"Will Kevin "Cowboy" Alvarez be reinstated now that he is free?"

Jose Zetina, Commissioner of Police
"I cannot say that he is a free man. The case can be re-instituted at any time. With respect to being reinstated I cannot comment because we will have a process which even though the charges are dropped does not prevent me as Commissioner from proceeding with disciplinary charges."

Keith Swift,
"As Commissioner would you want Mr. Alvarez reinstated?"

Jose Zetina,
"I wish not to comment, let the process take place. Whatever happens in the tribunal, I will have to respect."

Keith Swift,
"Concerning the entire PD there has been a rash of police behaving badly. From Constable Mark Tucker with sodomy to just yesterday the new recruit Constable Logan with unlawful carnal knowledge, what's happening?"

Jose Zetina,
"Well, we are dealing with human beings that came from the same society we are living in. But my thing is that if you notice we are giving a high publicity to what is happening, we are open and transparent. So any police officer who commits himself, I am going to take a high line of charging them criminally and exposing them too."

Incidentally the police department is now recruiting for its next intake at the police training academy in Belmopan later this year.

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