On Monday an unapologetic Commissioner of Police Jose Carmen Zetina told 7NEWS that Constable Aldo Ayuso was only doing his job when he 21 year old shot Leslie Rogers Jr., in what police say was self-defense. But, mounting public pressure and the general outcry against the shooting seems to have forced the department to soften its position as it today placed him on interdiction. That announcement came this morning from the Police Press Office, but this evening the Commissioner of Police told Alfonso Noble that it is not interdiction, it is leave and it is standard procedure, not a knee jerk reaction to public outcry.

Alfonso Noble,
We have learnt that Mr. Ayuso has been put on interdiction. Is this a shift in your belief?

Jose Carmen Zetina, Commissioner of Police
"No, that's not a shift. What I said on Monday, when I was interviewed, was that (given) what I had at the time, the statement taken Saturday night when the incident happened, it was only right for me to conclude, at the time, that Ayuso was acting within the scope of his authority. I haven't changed my position. Ayuso being interdicted now is just a matter of the process that follows in any investigation concerning police."

Alfonso Noble,
The concern is that this should have happened immediately, on Monday. He should have been interdicted and you then proceed with the investigation.

Jose Carmen Zetina,
"No but what happened in this case is that he was put on leave. He was put on leave. Ayuso has not been working since Saturday night. So it is a matter of following up now with the official letter of interdiction. But Ayuso was taken off duty from Saturday night. His firearm, service weapon, was taken from him as an exhibit. I have not shifted in anyway. As I mentioned, we continue to investigate and anybody who thinks that he has something valuable to contribute to the investigation, is called to do so."

Alfonso Noble,
Has the investigation changed since Monday? Has the bulk of the information you have been getting from the public changed since Monday, since your decision was taken?

Jose Carmen Zetina,
"What has happened is that you have many people making complaints and counter-complaints, this is only logical in any criminal investigation that we do."

Alfonso Noble,
What if anything will come out of this in terms of how long can we see this process take before we come to a final resolution to either absolve Mr. Ayuso or find him liable for killing the gentleman?

Jose Carmen Zetina,
"I don't think about liable you know. The thing is that we must complete the investigation. After completing the entire investigation, after we have exhausted getting everything from the other side of the story from the witnesses, the file will be submitted to the DPP for his determination. He has to peruse the file and make a determination on where we going with that investigation."

And while the COMPOL calls it leave, 7NEWS has obtained a document, which confirms that Ayuso was placed on interdiction. The letter states, "You are hereby interdicted form actual duty effective 16th February, 2005." The letter makes no mention of what Ayuso's salary will be in the interim. However 7NEWS has confirmed that a further communiqué from the COMPOL's officer made it clear t4hat Ayuso is to remain on full salary while on interdiction. It's a long way down for the young constable, who graduated as the top police recruit and earned the baton of honor in 2003.