As police use emergency powers to crack down on crime, the United Democratic Party is turning up the pressure on the man leading the department. Opposition Leader Tracy Panton is again calling for Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado to resign, arguing that his leadership has failed to produce results. She also accuses Rosado of failing to discipline rogue officers, putting police accountability back under scrutiny.
Tracy Panton
Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“The UDP calls for accountable leadership in the police high command. The Police Department and this is no secret, is widely seen as a gang themselves. Public confidence in the commissioner’s leadership, his inability to build institutional morale, allegations of conflict of interest of his office and political directorate, the use of the security apparatus to perpetuate seemingly illegal and unconstitutional detentions, the unwillingness of the commissioner to hold rogue police officers to account and his inability to earnt eh trust, respect of marginalized communities is below the standards that Belize deserves. The police high command must work with the highest standard of transparency and accountability, particularly when addressing citizen security. The UDP calls for the immediate removal of the current police commissioner, Dr. Richard Rosado as a first step to bolstering the public trust and confidence in effective policing. Dr. Richard Rosado must go and he must go now.”
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