Police Say Incident at Airstrip under Investigation

The Assistant Superintendent of Police, Fitzroy Yearwood, today characterized the actions of the officers as “unprofessional.” During the weekly press briefing, he said the Professional Standards Branch is carrying out an investigation. He says the police corporal should be held equally responsible for the confrontation because she was the superior officer on the scene.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department

“To be very honest with you, I have seen the video about six times. It was sent to me. It is very unfortunate that our police officers operated in such an unprofessional manner. I can assure the general public that our commissioner of Police and Minister of Police don’t tolerate behaviors like this. The use of so many obscenities, along with his behavior, I think at one point I saw the person’s phone or device that they were using fell to the ground. I am certain that the corporal should have taken control of the situation. That is why we promote people as supervisors. When you see an officer going off tangent, you the supervisor should come in as the controlling person where you could have even backed away the constable from that situation so as not to embarrass the department and him any further. Like I saw some comments and people were asking, how would you know how a tour guide looks as so forth? It is not that. The approach from the onset was bad. I think I saw where the person being asked to be searched got up and put his hands over his head which would mean he was cooperating. For our officers to act in an overzealous manner it is uncalled for and the commissioner has made his directives to Professional Standard Branch and I will update you as to which course the Professional Standard Branch takes against these officers.”