Bart Jones Believes Budna Investigation Going Smoothly

Last week, Acting Commissioner of Police Bart Jones confirmed that he placed Officer Barry Flowers on interdiction. Flowers is accused of signing out a firearm from the Special Patrol Unit while on leave, during the weekend that convicted criminal and self-styled journalist Joseph Budna was reportedly abducted in Orange Walk. While the investigation is still ongoing, the case has triggered both criminal and internal reviews. Today, we asked Jones if any further action might be taken against other officers. Here’s his response.

 

Bart Jones, Acting Commissioner of Police

“To my knowledge, one officer has been named, and that officer, I felt that there was sufficient information that warrant that he should be placed on interdiction to be away from duty so that the investigation can continue without hindrance. And so we wait for the results of that, to my knowledge, there has been no challenge, or at least the Ms. Anderson has nothing brought any challenge or concern that she had with the investigation. So I take that to mean that it is going without any hindrance.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Will you get to see the final report from Ms. Anderson before it is handed to the Prime Minister?”

 

Bart Jones

“Yes. So just to be clear as well, in terms of the report, yes the report will pass to the Prime Minister. Because I see people taking a spin that the role of the DPP will still be there. The issue of criminal charges is another issue. This investigation Ms. Anderson is doing is to look at not only from a criminal perspective, but whether internally there have been breaches with our policies and code of conduct, and to see if any officer is neglecting their duties and that those will be dealt with internally. And then if it’s a matter of the enough evidence to criminal care matter before the DPP that will be done. So we just have to wait for the result.”