Police Seek to Assists Mentally Ill Citizens on Streets

And another factor that must be considered is policing the homeless and mentally challenged. You will recall the incident just a few weeks ago in Belize City where a man attacked two unsuspecting women. Following this incident, many called for stronger police presence. Senior superintendent of Police, Reymundo Reyes explains how the department is dealing with this matter. 

 

Sr. Superintendent Reymundo Reyes, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“I know that this is a concern. Recently there was a discussion in Belmopan in regards to the same situation, not knowing that cabinet had already made an agreement or agreed that they will be looking into it because it is a concern for us. We police officers, like always we do have or respond to the situations and so forth, but when family members bring documents to present to us that this person is or has been certified medically unfit. There’s not much that we could do, Now with the assistance of other agencies that will definitely help us. Early last year, if you could recall, there was an exercise done by, not only the police department, but by other Ministries, where a lot of these people were removed from the streets and taken up north. But I believe that after the exercise was done for a three month period, it is something that they were trying out and persons were released back into society. So looking at this and maybe doing the analysis and so forth, they have noticed that they do need more efforts to be done in emphasis for us to get assistance for these people that are living within the streets of Belize City.”