Police Commissioner Refutes Opposition Leader’s Crime Analysis in State of the Nation

Police Commissioner Chester Williams has accused the Leader of the Opposition of deliberately misinforming the Belizean people in his State of the Nation response.  In a release issued this evening, Commissioner Williams stated that Moses Barrow’s crime analysis was inaccurate, particularly as it relates to the murder count.  According to Barrow, the murder count is up by forty percent, but the Police Commissioner says that in actuality major crimes are down by a whopping fifty four percent.  In the commissioner’s statement he noted that major crimes overall have been down when compared to the 2023 statistics.  In relation to the death of Daniel Caal who died shortly after being released from police custody, Commissioner Williams says Barrow’s attempt to score political points on this basis was pathetic.  He added that the leader’s desperation was glaring but that it was also reckless considering that post mortem had cleared the Police of any culpability.  Additionally, the commissioner says that the improvements and progress brought to the Police Department are unprecedented.  His reference in this case has to do with the more than 400 officers receiving land parcels; the hiring of a psychologist for the department; the promotion of over 800 police officers as well as the long service awards issued to more than 600 cops.  The Compol closed off by conceding that crime remains a battle and that the cooperation of everyone is required to overcome it.