2016 Murder Count Threatens Record; ComPol Addresses Plans to Reduce It

Allen Whylie

The murder count for 2016 sits at one hundred and thirty-five with just a week to go. It is already a worse figure than 2015 and not far off from the record year of 2012 with one hundred and forty-five. So what’s driving the compulsion to kill? Police Commissioner Allen Whylie told reporters today that murders involving personal disputes are far harder to solve – and fathom – than those motivated by gang violence. Nonetheless, Police enter 2017 equally resolved to stop both.

Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police

“To my recollection we are at, I believe, a hundred and thirty-five murders, which is not where we would have wanted to be, and not where we had expected we would be at the end of December; we still have another week to go and that figure could change. I can tell you that many of the murders, especially of recent, have not only been heinous but senseless. We’ve had murders between friends drinking; we’ve had murders between friends speaking about religion; we’ve had persons people entering’ houses and senselessly shooting persons and those kinds of murders are difficult to prevent. During this season, yes, we have stepped up our various patrols along the highways and in Belize City; the officers can be seen, they have made a dent, I believe, in the level of crime. But, as I have always indicated, as police we have always got to be right, and all that is required is a split second for the criminal to get an opportunity. And so we will continue to strategize; next year we will be introducing some additional strategies which will be shared with the public and I am certain that those should make a difference once again.”

The Commissioner says he has not yet met with new substantive Minister for Home Affairs, Wilfred Elrington; but Elodio Aragon Jr., the Minister of State and Whylie’s former deputy, is in constant communication and the new initiatives have Elrington’s support and input.