On December 31st, 2009 the Ministry of National Security appointed an internal inquiry team to investigate the complaints made by the Galvez family about the murder of Chris Galvez. Galvez was executed at a Belize City Boatyard on December 22, 2009, and shortly after, his relatives alleged that a police officer killed him, and that a key suspect, Andre Aguilar had been expeditiously released as an act of police corruption. The allegations did provoke credible consideration and in response to public outcry, the Ministry named a three persons inquiry team.

Deputy National Security Coordinator Oliver Del Cid was named as the chair with membership of Jennifer Saldivar –Ramirez who is the Ministry’s Administrative Officer and Assistant Superintendent of Police Marlon Allen who is the liaison officer between the Ministry and the Department. The team was tasked to make an internal inquiry, not to solve the murder. They had to find out whether the police had indeed acted unprofessionally; whether any external interference had caused Andre Aguilar to be released after 18 hours of detention; whether procedure was broken by his release and whether a police officer had threatened the Galvez family.

In nine weeks The Del Cid Commission interviewed 51 persons, and reviewed a number of documents. Today, the tightly written 18 page Del Cid Report was presented to the media – and here’s what it said.

Jules Vasquez Reporting,
With the report in hand and the three commissioners sitting beside the Minister and CEO of National Security – and the Galvez family in attendance that stage was set for a significant disclosure.

Hon. Carlos Perdomo, Minister of National Security
“At the very least the inquiry points to lapses and faults in following proper procedures and these lapses assisted in creating the perception of deliberate wrongdoing.”

And that’s all it does – point to lapses – but it refutes the perception that there was any deliberate cover – up. It does show that a lot went wrong – and a lot was left to be desired in the conduct of the investigation - but points no fingers...at anyone really – and certainly not at the investigators who released Andre Aguilar after 18 hours of detention. Here are the conclusions.

Oliver Del Cid,
“There is no evidence of professional misconduct in how the murder investigation is being conducted. Though the investigation was not in its initial stages as quick or as comprehensive as would be expected. The inquiry team found no evidence that external influence led to the release of Andre Aguilar before 48 hours. Similarly the team found no evidence that any procedures or laws were breached by his release. The behaviour of the police officer who first arrived at the scene of the crime when he went to the Galvez residence on the evening of the 23rd and 24th December was perceived as threatening by the family. The inquiry team also determined that the IAD investigation into the actions of the officer was not carried out as expeditiously as was expected and remained incomplete as much as 7 weeks after the alleged incident.

Four, police officers who responded to the shooting incident could have provided much needed medical assistance to Chris Galvez had their received sufficient training in first aid. The inquiry team could not determine if anyone gave Andre Aguilar permission to remove the license plates from his vehicle.

The officers at the Mahogany Street Police Substation may also have contravened standing orders in failing to fully secure the crime scene and to keep Aguilar in sight, either of which would have prevented him from removing his license plates. The detention and release of Andre Aguilar was not properly recorded in the diary and the CIB register as required by the police and the department standing orders.”

And that’s as far as it goes, though earnest the report is toothless – it found a lot of things done incorrectly – but found no deliberate misdeeds – and certainly not by the investigators who released Andre Aguilar after 18 hours of detention.

Oliver Del Cid,
“Andre Aguilar’s detention and release were not properly logged in the station diary and the CIB Register at the Queen’s Street Police Station. Unfortunately, the failure of the various police to keep precise records made it difficult for the department to give a clear answer the question of Aguilar’s time of release first came up. It therefore allowed for speculation that Aguilar may have been secretly released much earlier.

The inquiry team found no evidence whatsoever which suggested that any sort of external interference led to the release of Andre Aguilar. The fact that two lawyers appeared on separate occasions to inquire about Aguilar’s detention cannot be construed as interference. Aguilar was released when it became clear he could not have been the shooter as he was with the boatyard employees and not with Christopher Galvez when the latter was shot. The inquiry team did not find any evidence that officers at the Queen Street Police Station breached any laws or procedures in releasing Andre Aguilar before 48 hours.

With regards to the detention of Aguilar on the suspicion that he set up or other wise knew of the murder before it occurred, there was in fact no real evidence on which to detain and charge him. A subsequent examination by the National Forensics Science Service of an expended shell found by the Scenes of Crime Team suggested that the pistol that fired the bullet was of a different brand than the firearms legally owned and carried by Andre Aguilar and the police officer who first arrived at the scene.”

But no swab for gunpowder residue was taken from Aguilar and police investigators made nothing of the fact that after his friend was killed – among the first things he thought to do was to remove the license plates from his Land Cruiser. Del Cid was reluctant to comment on that.

Oliver Del Cid,
“There is the matter of the removal of license plates by Andre Aguilar which immediately led to the assumption that he had something to hide and that the police officer who first arrived on the scene was somehow in collusion with him. The inquiry team has been unable to determine whether any one gave Aguilar permission to remove the license plates.”

Jules Vasquez,
“But you would agree that is not consistent with the behaviour, reactions, of a law abiding person?”

Oliver Del Cid,
“I cannot talk about motive. I was not able to speak to Mr. Aguilar, I was not able to clarify some of the things he put in his statement so I can’t go forward on that.”

Jules Vasquez,
“Do you concede that it is at least an odd thing to happen?”

Oliver Del Cid,
“I would certainly concede it was an odd thing to happen and that is why it has garnered so much attention.”

Well at least he thought it was odd, investigators thought nothing of it. Del Cid also looked at the conduct of the police officer who happened upon the scene moments after Chris Galvez was shot. He found Galvez alive but did not render aid.

Oliver Del Cid,
“Firstly the failure of any of the persons who were at or came upon the crime scene to render first aid to Chris Galvez is deeply regrettable. Thought the bullet might not have damaged any vital organs or the main arteries, the wounds to the face were quite severe and life threatening because of the extensive network of arteries present. The failure of the first police officer who first arrived on the scene to render medical assistance appears to be counter to the Belize Police Department’s standing orders. It appears that the officers who arrived at the scene simply could not recall what they were supposed to do in cases of a medical emergency and were unsure of their ability to render effective first aid for fear of worsening the situation.”

Yolanda Schakron,
“Why didn’t they put Christopher in a vehicle and drive him to the hospital? I find that to be quite strange.”

Oliver Del Cid,
“The officer felt that he called 911 and did not feel that he knew what to do in providing first aid.”

That same officer also displayed threatening behaviour towards the Galvez family.

Oliver Del Cid,
“The police officer who first arrived at the scene of the crime went to the residence on Vernon Street on the afternoon of 23rd December in police uniform with his firearm in his holster and ask for Mr. Martin Galvez, father of Christopher Galvez. When told that he was not there, the officer approached one of Galvez’s brothers, gave his version of what happened that night, and denied that he had anything to do with Chris Galvez’s murder.

This is contradicted by the police who admitted he did go to the house in an effort to clear his name. The family’s account and the officer’s accounts differs in that while the latter claims that he left and took out his pistol just before he got into his vehicle which was on the street, 11 of the thirteen people interviewed who were in yard and the house when the incident occurred indicated that the police officer pulled out his firearm while walking out but still in the yard and turned and said in a very loud voice to the effect that if people don’t stop calling his name, someone will get hurt.

The inquiry team determined that the police officer was apparently frustrated at being accused of being involved in the murder of Christopher Galvez. The officer’s presence, words, and actions in these two incidents were clearly perceived as threatening by the Galvez family.”

But again the toothless report fails to find wrongdoing – but the Minister says there’s a lot to look at.

Hon. Carlos Perdomo,
“This is terrible but we are presenting the report as we found it. This is not a nice report for the Police Department as far as procedure so this report will instigate me further to push for reform within the police.”

That press conference was held this morning and it lasted for just under two hours. This afternoon, the Galvez family held their own press conference to respond to the Del Cid report. As you might have been able to tell from the press conference, they were not satisfied and we’ll have their comments later on in the newscast.