Corozalenos Join Hands To Combat Crime
Citizens for a Better Corozal Coalition was formed on April 22ndof this year. The group pledged that with the assistance of the community it would work along with the Corozal Police Station in order to reduce crime. Keeping in line with their aim this morning the coalition handed over several bicycles, batons, flashlights, and handcuffs to the Corozal Police Formation.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
Just about two months ago Corozal was plagued with numerous burglaries and robberies. Residents of the community feared that the misdemeanours would escalate to something far more serious and thus the “Citizens for a Better Corozal Coalition” was formed under the presidency of Henry Menzies.
This morning, in an effort to reduce crime in the small town, the Citizens For a Better Corozal Coalition handed over several equipment’s to the Corozal Police Station. According to Menzies, much of the items donated were obtained with the kind assistance of the Corozal Community.
Henry Menzies, President, Citizens for a Better Corozal Coalition
“We got donations through the coalition from the business community and today we presented 5 bicycles, 7 hand cuffs, 7 batons and 7 flash lights to the police officers. This is a total value of $2,528 donations.”
As the old saying goes prevention is better that cure and according to Superintendent Gualberto Garcia, Officer In Charge of the Corozal Police Station, police officers will now be better equipped for the battle against crime.
Gualberto Garcia, Officer In Charge, Corozal Police Station
“I personally believe that prevention is better than cure so one of our main objectives is to have more patrols out in the streets. Corozal town which is one of the smaller towns in the country is very big for us with the amount of man power that we have. So with these bicycles I can assure that we will be having more police officers on the street and a little bit farther from the center of town. So, the people of Corozal will, in a very short while, start to see police officers on bicycle in areas where they haven’t been seen for some time.”
Henry Menzies, President, Citizens for a Better Corozal Coalition
“It will assist the police. We’ve been having a lot of heat and this will assist the police in mobilizing themselves faster. They will be able to patrol and cover a lot more area. The bicycles can be ridden day or night as they have lights and everything. It is fully loaded as they say.”
But today’s gesture signified more than just a simple handing over. It sent a message that when the community and the police join hands to combat crime the bad guys will surely be the ones losing the battle.
Gualberto Garcia, Officer In Charge, Corozal Police Station
“With these donations that we received today I believe that the moral of my police officers will increase a bit because they are seeing that the community is with us. And that they are not bashing on us like they do most of the time. So I do believe that these contributions will greatly help us in creating a better awareness. Not only to the public but our police officers as well for us to be reminded of our duty as police officers to provide a better sense of security for the people of Corozal. That is one of the most important aspects of it because for too many times I have seen bicycles from ever since and these just because these bicycles received on flat then they are parked for the rest of their lives. So I am assuring the people of Corozal that I will ensure to the best of my abilities that these equipments are taken care off. At the same time I must mentioned that these things will not last forever. These things will deteriorate and they will become obsolete sometime.”
Also present at this morning’s handing over was Corozal Town Councillor Elva Perez who sent a strong message to the delinquents.
Elva Perez, Councillor, Corozal Town
“I just want to share and send a message to those people outside there thinking that they can do whatever they want. They think that they can invade our town. Corozal had been a peaceful town. A town where our kids can be out in the streets and that we know that they are safe and that now the crime rates have increased but we just want to send a message to those people that we are together. We won’t allow them to invade our town.”
Three more bicycles have been pledged by the Corozal Community and are expected to be handed over to the Corozal Police Station sometime next week. Citizens for a Better Corozal Coalition is also looking forward to working with the Corozal Transport Department and the Corozal Town Council in order to create a safer community for all Corozalenos.
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