Dishonest policeman on special duty allegedly caught stealing; is suspended and faces criminal charges

Published by BBNTEAM at January 13, 2025

Posted: Monday, January 13, 2025. 5:13 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: A police officer of Mahogany Heights, Belize District, faces criminal charges, suspension and potentially dismissal from the Belize Police Department for an alleged act of theft committed while on duty, staining a three-decade career on the force.

Constable Peter Graham, 52, was working special duty at the J&Y Block Factory on Mahogany Street, Belize City on January 6 when the owner left her office between 8 and 8:30 a.m. The owner returned to find Graham behind the desk.

When she asked what he was doing there, he claimed he was locking the padlock as it was left open and he was about to leave. She checked her drawer and immediately noticed that $300 was missing and let him know. Eventually, it was determined that $550 was missing, which was eventually returned.

Graham was identified on surveillance footage as being behind the desk while the business owner was absent. He now faces charges of theft.

Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams had to strain to reach for words appropriate enough to describe the gravity of the incident. He settled for saying, “Sometimes I really wonder what goes through the minds of some police [officers], honestly. His actions [and] conduct is disgusting…what I saw on that video footage is certainly something that is unforgivable. We are police officers; we are charged with the trust and confidence of the public. His conduct in that video goes against the grain of what being a police officer is. And so, he was suspended immediately, and I have already directed the legal office to write him…today and will ask him in light of the allegations, what is depicted on that video footage, why he should not be dismissed.”

The Commissioner emphasized that Graham cannot simply be let go in the interest of natural justice and so he must be given a chance to defend himself. He said he would weigh in his best judgment that response against the evidence and if his reasons are not justified, he would be dismissed. He has 14 days to respond in person or through an attorney.

Reports say that in 2018 he was found with items allegedly linked to an illegally landed drug plane but Commissioner Williams could not shed further light on this.

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