7 News Belize

Compol Chester Meets With All Officers
posted (January 22, 2019)
He took over command two weeks ago, and, today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams held an All Officers Conference.

He met with every cop at the rank of Inspector and above at the Training Academy in Belmopan. That's 135 cops, and he told the media that he is trying to get everyone reading from the same song sheet:

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"You would know that the all officers press conference was a feature for policing for years, but over the past couple of years we have not had an all officer's conference in quite some time. Under my administration it is my intention to bring it back the way it used to be and all officers conference will be held every 6 months. Today main message is basically to enlighten the officers on the new changes in administration. I know that the officers have been seeing a number of movements with senior officers moving here and maybe wondering what is going on and I just see it fit that it is right that we bring them together and explain to them the different changes who is in charge of what and who is in charge of where. Secondly; where I am explaining to the officers what is the way forward in terms of us tackling our crime problem and to let them understand what is expected of them, in order to ensure that we fulfil our mandates n reducing crime particularly in murders for this year. We also had a presentation this morning from Mr. Jules Vasquez of Channel 7 who dealt with media issues and we are vey grateful for his time with us this morning explaining to the officers what and how to interact with the media. We want to ensure that we enjoy a friendly and cordial relationship with the media. One where there is the sharing of information and was said by Jules in his own presentation that the police can use the media at our advantage to be able to ensure that we get our positive messages out to the public."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Just observing the room this morning - 135 officers. Just my experience in the department and this is for many years that there are many petty rivalries which undermines the command and the execution of duties. How will you build among these officers that level of consensus that everybody can move forward on the same page without having to worry about 'well bway one time chester mi du mee this or chester di think one time chester mi du mee dis and I wah get am back now.'"

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"For me, the first task as the commissioner of police is t6o ensure that I identify the department and so they should be no clicks within the department. We speak with one voice. Yes there may have been issues in the past among officers and as the commissioner of police I must ensure that I raise above petty issues. If I cannot do that, then I cannot be a leader and so I want to sound it as I've said to my officers before that under my administration there will be no victimization. I have been a victim of victimizations and it was not a nice feeling and so I don't want anybody to endure what I had endured when I was a victim of circumstances."

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