Cayo Murders Mount, Police Urge Unity

Over the last five months, Western Belize has seen a troubling run of violence. There have been at least six murders in the Cayo District, from Cotton Tree to San Ignacio, and two of those incidents were double homicides. According to police, the killings were either drug or gang related. With the deaths adding up, the question is whether the Belize Police Department can get a handle on this criminal trend in the west. We put that question to ASP Stacy Smith.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“The Belize Police Department remains committed to its mandate when it comes to advancing public safety and security. But I will also say, as I have reiterated on many other occasions, citizen security is not soley up to police. It takes civilians, as well as churches, business places, schools, persons who care about the status of our country to truly bring the situation to circumstance which we are all pleased. But as it relates to the Belize Police Department itself, we continue to strategize, we continue to invest in resources. WE continue to try and be as innovative as possible, as proactive as possible. These proactive conduct have at times, and you saw it over the weekend, led us into circumstances where by we come into conflict with those members of the public. But I would hope too in circumstances as such persons are also able to glean the level of restraint that are exercised by police officers or the challenge you face when you try to go about doing your duty.”

 

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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