Police Officer that Killed GG’s Dog Details His Version of Events

After nearly a decade of service, former police corporal Deandre Reid was dismissed for shooting and killing the Governor General’s dog while on duty. Reid has taken to social media to detail his version of the story.

According to Reid, police officers at Government House, where the Governor General resides, are required to be present around the clock, which means that interactions with the dogs there are inevitable.

In a video posted online, Reid said, “I wasn’t working sentry duties for long. I’m not fully aware of how these dogs carry themselves. I’ve heard stories; I’ve seen entries in the diary about previous incidents whereby officers were there and the dog tried to bite them, attack them, growl, bark, and so forth.”

Reid claimed he had received warnings from fellow officers about the dogs’ aggressive nature, with some officers using pepper spray when the dogs displayed hostility.

Reid detailed the incident, saying the dog initially barked at him, and he attempted to chase it away. After the dog retreated, he walked out of the booth to see where the dog had ran to, in which he adds that the dog came at him once more.

Reid says that fearing for his safety, he ran into the police booth and later fired a shot, which, he claims, struck the dog in the head. He admitted that in the heat of the moment, he did not immediately document the incident in the diary. According to Reid, the son of Governor General Froyla Tzalam, he heard the shot go off.

Reid said that he later received a letter stating “Discharging a Firearm without the authority of the Commissioner of Police,” adding, “Causing the death of a canine at the property of the Governor General of Belize.” In that letter it said that Reid was “fined $250.00 to be deducted in two equal installments of $125.00 each, on June 30th, 2024, and July 31st, 2024…. He was further advised in relation to section 24(9) of the Police Act, a sentence proposed to be imposed by any superior officer or other person delegated by the Commissioner of Police shall be notified to the Commissioner by the office or person and be subject to the approval of the Commissioner, who may confirm or remit the whole or any part thereof, or may enhance it, or may substitute any other sentence which is authorised to be imposed under this section.”

Two and a half months later, he said he received a letter from Commissioner Chester Williams, notifying him of his dismissal and requesting him to “give him a reason as to why they shouldn’t be dismissed.”

Reid stated, “In the footage, you could see clear how the dog come back da di door, I walk out check see if e no di deh, and it’s shown that I di run back ina the booth. It no show when I shoot the dog and all a that… I don’t know how they can come to the conclusion that intentionally gone shoot the dog.”