Dr. Richard Rosado: From Selling Creole Bread to Deputy ComPol
Earlier this week, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams announced that A.C.P. Richard Rosado, Commander of Eastern Division, would be elevated to the post of Deputy Commissioner. Dr. Rosado’s rise to head of Operations and Crime comes at a critical juncture for the Belize Police Department. But, the public may know little about Dr. Rosado, aside from the fact that he is the first Doctor of Philosophy within the department. We’ve followed Dr. Rosado on several Meet and Greets and have covered his work with the Leadership Intervention Unit. Tonight, News Five’s Isani Cayetano shares this profile.
When Richard Rosado enlisted in the Belize Police Department in September 2000, he was twenty-five-years-old; a son fulfilling his father’s dream of having all his boys follow in his footsteps in law enforcement.
Dr. Richard Rosado
Dr. Richard Rosado, Deputy Commissioner of Police
“I come from a family of police officers. My father was a police officer, all my brothers are police officers. In fact, I have a son as a police officer now, and it is something that, as a child, I recall my father used to say [that] he would be the happiest person if all his sons become police officers and hence, from childhood I believe my father was grooming us to become police officers.”
The journey to becoming the next Deputy Commissioner of Police has been a lifelong process of personal and professional development for Rosado, who is the first officer in the department to have attained a Ph.D.
Dr. Richard Rosado
“I recall in 2008 when Crooks did his audit of the police department, one statement that caught me and it was that he said that the Belize Police Department does not have managers that are educated enough to transform the police department in the direction it should go. Hence the reason I embarked on trying to qualify myself within the police department to one day become the Commissioner of Police.”
Dr. Rosado, who up until earlier this week headed Eastern Division, is a step closer to realizing that dream. On January tenth, an announcement was made by the Office of the Commissioner of Police that ACP Rosado will ascend in rank and will be responsible for Operations and Crime at the country level.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
Chester Williams
“It was a very lengthy and tedious process to be able to determine exactly who is the right fit to ascend to the post of deputy commissioner, and at the end of it all, we agreed on ACP Rosado who is the current Officer Commanding Eastern Division. That being the case, that will see him removing from Officer Commanding Eastern Division to take up the post of Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations) in Belmopan.”
His childhood and subsequent career in law enforcement have not been without trials and deep personal losses. Fernando Rosado Sr., the paterfamilias of the Rosados, was slain in the line of duty in 1978. At four years old, Richard was still an infant when he lost his father. Several decades later, tragedy would strike again. On December 27th, 2020, Fernando Rosado Jr. would also be killed in the line of duty, two weeks after celebrating his twenty-eighth birthday. Beset by grief, it did not stop Richard or his son from pursuing their vocation in law enforcement.
Dr. Richard Rosado
“It was a journey and educating myself, I can say that many people helped me along the way. In fact, I can recall after high school going to the Ministry of Education one day to sell bread when I met the Minister of Education, I think it was Said Musa… He had asked me why I am not in school and I had told him that I was accepted to UB but my mother couldn’t afford it.”
The then Minister of Education, Said Musa, provided Rosado with a scholarship opportunity to commence his tertiary education at the University College of Belize. In terms of academic pursuit, it would change his life forever. Interestingly, Kareem Musa, son of former Prime Minister Said Musa, is now Rosado’s political boss.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Yes, we do have a lot of excellent officers at the Assistant Commissioner level who could have been elevated and are still being considered for the next elevation, but certainly for me, Assistant Commissioner Rosado stood out and hence the reason he got the promotion. I’ve seen over the last year, he has an excellent work ethic, in addition to his experience. And of course, his academics as well, he’s very well qualified for the post, so I’m very comfortable in my skin in terms of the decision made.”
Many are left wondering, however, what effect, if any, that decision would have on the work of the Leadership Intervention Unit. Along with William Dawson and Kevin Cadle, Dr. Rosado has been integral in working with at-risk youths.
Dr. Richard Rosado
“I will still play an integral role in the Leadership Intervention Unit. I believe that what the minister wants to accomplish within the Leadership Intervention Unit, if that works, and I am hopeful, I am confident, in fact, that it will work because they focus on addressing the root causes of crime. If that works then the police department can concentrate on their mandate of making Belize a safer place.”
At the moment, all eyes are on Richard Rosado as the heir apparent to the Office of the Commissioner of Police. It’s in the offing, nonetheless, the highest praise for attitude, performance and vision is being heaped upon him by the Minister of Home Affairs.
Kareem Musa
“That’s all the way down the road, thinking in terms of succession, but certainly he is a good candidate for it. I have to say out of the gate that Dr. Rosado, in my opinion, would one day make a great commissioner as well.”
Isani Cayetano reporting for News Five.
