ComPol Rescinds Transfer of Beloved Police Sergeant in Sarteneja

Residents of Sarteneja Village, Corozal recently proved to the old adage there is strength in numbers. The community has banded together to reverse the transfer of the officer in charge of the community, Sergeant William Marroquin. This month, the Belize Police Department moved to transfer Marroquin, which caused an uproar among the community. Marroquin had established a strong working relationship with the village through key community policing programs. The decision led to the village planning to travel to Belmopan to voice their concerns to the Commissioner of Police. However, after holding a public meeting with dozens in attendance, the community convinced the department’s top cop to reverse the decision. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams spoke on the situation earlier today.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “I don’t think the police officer was reluctant to be transferred. The police officer does understand that we are a disciplined organization and as a part of our work we must move and when you’re told to be transferred then it is expected that you are going to take up your transfer. But again Mr. Marroquin has been working in Sarteneja for about two years now and the people of the village do like the way he works. I can tell you that he has been instrumental in two major drug busts in that area just last year and so the people have gotten to like him. They are comfortable with him being in the village policing the village and it has been a problematic area for us before he went there. And so having heard the complaints of the people I have decided to rescind the transfer of Mr. Marroquin so he remains in Sarteneja for a little while longer.”

The community has expressed its gratitude to Williams via a post on Facebook