Williams also commented on the two police officers we told you about last night who were charged for violating the curfew. They are constables Martinez and Roches, officers assigned to the northside, but were arrested by southside cops and taken to the precinct two station like any other detainee.
That did not go down well with some who believe the police fraternity should provide protection against such humiliation. The Commissioner is not one of them:
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"We have tried as best as we can not to discriminate in terms of how we enforce the state of emergency regulations. May I say that 4 coast guard members have also been charged under the state of emergency regulation, 2 in Punta Gorda and 2 in Belize City and that goes to show there is now exception, even when it comes to members of the security forces. If they are out during the curfew hours, they are not working, they must have a valid reason to be out and if the reasons for them being out does not fall within the state of emergency regulation, then they are in violation and they are not immune from prosecution and so in those 6 cases, those officers have been charged."
Jules Vasquez
"These guys are saying well I don't know why Northside officers charge we, like it's an agreement we shouldn't be charged because we're untouchable, we are law enforcers, law men."
Chester Williams
"Well my thing to them and I saw the text message which was sent by one of them and I immediately called his commander and I said to his commander, you need to speak to him because one, he recently was re-enlisted and two, he is still on probation and if it is that you are going to display behaviours that is consistent with gang members, talk about beef and war, then we don't want you amongst us and if it is that he believe that a war has began between North and Southside, we are not going to have it, he will go and war at home."
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