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Boy, some of you guys are soooo jaded when it comes to the police department. I guess you can only remember the negative instances but not the success stories. I suppose having worked with the police fairly closely over the years has allowed me some insight that the average citizen doesn't have.

From my own recent experience I found the police to be very helpful. They helped me solve my problem and gave me a ride as well. Grateful for their help.

Too funny!!! You made my day!

I'm afraid I have positive reasons for having a much less rosy view of Belize police than is acknowledged here.

I have had very positive experiences when dealing with any issues involving the police and was very grateful and happy.

You obviously haven't ever crossed any of the local mafia.

Not sure I agree with that...and sure some others who know me well probably wouldn't either. However if you are correct I sure am lucky!

I'm not saying they aren't polite and helpful. I think their encounter with the General public are probably just fine.
One issue I have is when , for instance you might witness someone breaking into someones home , reporting it sometime gets a response of ' the owner of the house has to complain' that seems to me to be an incorrect response, bear in mind I'm living north and they would have to find transportation to respond. It may also be an excuse to not bother with the transportation problem. The tediousness and time consuming filling a report with the police is another reason I don't bother. Low man on the todem pole seems to get the duty of recording your complaint. Understanding English , spelling and writing skills are usually very low and slow with this person, and I wonder if frustrating the complainant might be a way of lessening the work load.

An elementary school education is all that is required to enter the Police Academy. The whole system is screwed up. Look at the conditions they have to live in out here. Nonetheless, it's no excuse for excessive police brutality on a regular basis (not just with those who report it), extortion, drug trafficking and gross inefficiencies.

Those that are sincere in serving and protecting Belize must feel even more helpless.


SIN

I've been pretty harsh in my assessment of the Police throughout the country and I don't withdraw that. I have very good reasons. But I am all for "policing" in general, and in England nearly became a special constable - I was approved but opted for the TA (voluntary army) instead. I am deeply opposed to corruption, and I'm afraid that's what I see here. Not just in the police, but at all levels of government and "officialdom". So long as we all just shrug our shoulders and accept it as the way things are done here it will continue, will become even more deeply entrenched, and will probably get worse. If "fitting in" necessitates turning a blind eye to corruption then I'm happy not to fit in. But I'd rather it weren't this way.

I'm not saying that at an individual level all police here are corrupt, or even inept. Each is certainly true in some cases, but I know individual officers who do a pretty good job considering the pressures they're under. At a practical level, can't we agitate politically to get sensible funding for the police, so numbers and remuneration can both increase? THEN we can reasonably start demanding more accountable behaviour.