ComPol Williams Defends Decision to Dismiss Former PC Deandre Reid

Commissioner Chester Williams has defended his controversial decision to dismiss former police officer Deandre Reid over the fatal shooting of the Governor General’s dog. In response to claims that the investigation was flawed, Williams firmly rejected suggestions that his decision should be overturned, stating, “I have read the opinion, and I disagree with certain aspects of it.”

Reid appealed the Commissioner’s decision to the Belize Advisory Council on September 5, 2024. The Attorney General’s Ministry, in a memorandum, stated that Reid “is alleging that the decision of the Commissioner is unlawful, as there was a breach of legitimate expectation, natural justice, and procedural irregularity, and further that the decision to dismiss was unreasonable and disproportionate.”

In his appeal, Reid argued that the disciplinary proceedings were rushed and that he was not given adequate notice, depriving him of a fair opportunity to respond to the charges.

When reporters questioned Williams about the matter, he said, “I think that to some extent the counsel from the AG Ministry was not privy to all information when he wrote that opinion because, one, when we have breaches of our disciplinary code, we don’t need to issue a notice of complaint.”

Williams defended his handling of Reid’s case, describing the advice given by the AG Ministry as an “opinion,” not a definitive statement. He said that Reid’s case did not fall under the specific conditions that would require such a notice and that the decision-making process was lawful. While Reid was fined $250, Williams stated, “I exercised my discretion in dismissing him on the basis that the response given was not satisfactory, right? And so for the council to have said that natural justice was not followed, that’s not true.”