ASP Stacy Smith Explains Promotion Process Following Recommendation

A recommended promotion inside the Belize Police Department is now drawing attention, as Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith is being considered for elevation to Superintendent. A letter sent to the Security Services Commission says Smith has already been carrying out duties above her current rank and performed strongly before the Promotional Board. But while several Assistant Superintendents passed the assessment, not everyone will move up because there are only a limited number of vacancies. Smith’s promotion is not final until the Commission gives its approval. Today, she explained how the promotion process works.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“ Whenever anyone reaches the rank of inspector,  the process for promotion no longer entails a promotional exam, i.e. a written exam. Below that rank, you would do a written exam and based upon completing the exam or how you perform in the exam, you would move to the interview process, and based on the performance in the interview process as well as other factors, a decision will be made. When it comes to persons of the rank of inspector and above, the process entails an application by the interested officer to go before the promotional board. A promotional board is convened. I think it’s a five-member panel consisting of senior officers as well as representative from the security service and the, the ministry, where the individual officers are placed in front of this panel of five persons, and each of them gets an opportunity to ask that officer question relevant to the post to which they wish to occupy. After that is done, the grades are submitted to the Commissioner’s office, and based on that, he reviews that as well as the performance appraisal and the needs of the department in terms of the administrative needs, and a recommendation is forwarded to the Security Services Commission for the promotion of officers.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What is the passing mark for the exam?”

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“I believe the standard is sixty at this point in time for a passing mark. But I must also say that passing the exam is but one component. You can have a look at the public service regulations from the Constitution, and you will see what are the criteria that are laid out in it, as well as the policy manual. And it’s a gamut of criteria consideration, and they go the extent of stating what other takes priority or what, where more weight is applied.”

 

Smith farther explains that the passing mark for the examination is a sixty percent, however, she notes that recommendations take several other deciding factors into consideration.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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