Belize Police Department Braces for Legal Battle after Terminating Officers Involved in Drug Plane Landing

The Belize Police Department is bracing for a legal battle that may ensue after terminating several police officers accused of facilitating a drug plane landing. Sergeant George Ferguson, Corporal Delwin Casimiro, Corporal Elmer Nah, and Constable Nelson Middleton were part of a larger group of officers formally terminated on December 7. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says that it was a difficult decision to fire the officers, but it was necessary to maintain the public’s trust in the police. Williams pointed to Nah specifically, saying that it is unjustifiable for him to remain in uniform, given the public’s perception of him.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “I certainly do expect that there’s going to be some legal challenge and we’re prepared to deal with the consequence of it. It’s not an easy decision to have been made I can tell you because of the fact that I do understand the legal implication and the potential financial cost to the government but we have to strike a balance and we have to play that balancing act. What do we do if you have a situation where the public have lost every trust and confidence in a particular police ? His mere presence even outside of uniform is intimidating it brings a great sense of fear, a great sense of insecurity in the public. How can we have that person still wearing a police uniform ? I don’t see it happening. At some point in time what needs to be done must be done and so I discussed the matter with the minister. I am sure if you were to ask Belizean people how would they feel to see those police officers in uniform again the answer is going to be fearful and it gives the department a black eye and it makes us look as if we don’t know what we’re doing or that we’re condoning these types of officers. So the decision was made that they be dismissed.”

Elmer Nah was recently cleared of a charge of unlawful possession of ammunition; however, he is currently on remand at the Belize Central Prison for the murders of Jon, David, and Vivian Ramnarace between New Year’s Eve 2022 and January 2023.