Belize Advisory Council Overturns Cop’s Firing Over GG’s Dog

Remember that controversial case involving former police officer DeAndre Reid, the one where he shot and killed the Governor General’s dog while on duty? Well, there’s been a major update. The Belize Advisory Council has ruled that Reid’s dismissal was invalid. Reid was fired in 2024 by then-Commissioner of Police Chester Williams after the incident, which Reid later explained in detail on social media. He claimed the dog charged at him, twice, and that he fired in self-defense. Reid later appealed the dismissal, arguing it was unfair and violated due process. Now, the council agrees. So, what does former ComPol Williams think about the decision? We asked him.

 

Chester Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Transport

 ”I am not surprised or I should not feel a way that a decision that I made was overturned. And while I do accept what the advisor council did, may I say that they said in their letter several breaches, but they only sighted one. The two things come out to the same thing. In law there is what you refer to as mandatory rules and directory rules. Mandatory rules are those rules of law that if there is a breach of those rules, it would render the decision null and void. And the directory rules are those where if they’re not followed, the decision shall not be deemed null and void. Okay. The notices in the disciplinary rules are not mandatory. Those are directory rules. And so, a breach of those rules should not have rendered the results of the tribunal null and void. If you notice, the advisor council did not touch anything else in terms of the process of the tribunal and to say that the commissioner’s decision in upping the penalty and dismissal wrong, they didn’t go down the road. They based their decision simply on the fact that these two directory rules were not followed. It’s like to say, if a policeman were to come right now and assault you with a gun, if  you were to say that in dealing with that police, if the department fails to give him that five days or seven days’ notice, you are not assaulted, no. And that should not render the case against that police officer to be considered null and void or be set aside if you want to be convicted. It set bad precedence. Nonetheless, I’m guided and respected and respect the advisory council’s position, and it has nothing to do with the fact that it is GG. It could have been your dog. And, like I said, I came in after the fact. So to say that it was dealt with summarily by me, no you are wrong.”