ASP Stacy Smith Recommended for Promotion to Superintendent

Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith is being recommended for promotion to Superintendent of Police; however, she says the promotion has not yet been confirmed.  A letter obtained by Love News indicates that Smith’s recommendation has been forwarded to the Security Services Commission, which is responsible for reviewing and approving promotions within the senior ranks of the Belize Police Department.  The document states that Smith is already performing duties assigned to a Senior Superintendent, a rank above her current post, and that she met the required standard before the Promotional Board. It further indicates that she ranked favourably in the overall assessment.  Smith, who serves as the department’s primary public relations officer and is also an attorney-at-law, explained that appearing before the Promotional Board and receiving a recommendation do not automatically result in promotion.  Smith stressed that, while she has been recommended, her promotion will become official only if and when it is approved by the Security Services Commission./

Stacy Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Police: “It was just a recommendation. The Security Services Commission would have to meet and make their deliberation. Whenever anyone reaches the rank of inspector the process for promotion no longer entails a promotional exam, i.e. a written exam. Below that rank you would do a written exam and based upon completing the exam or how you perform in the exam, you would move to the interview process and based on the performance in the interview process as well as other factors a decision will be made. When it comes to persons of the rank of inspector and above the process entails an application by the interested officer to go before the promotional board. A promotional board is convened, I think it’s a five-member panel consisting of senior officers as well as representatives from the Security Service and the ministry where the individual officers are placed in front of these panel of five persons and each of them gets an opportunity to ask that officer questions relevant to the post to which they wish to occupy. After that is done the grades are submitted to the commissioner’s office and based on that he reviews that as well as the performance appraisal and the needs of the department in terms of the administrative needs and a recommendation is forwarded to the Security Services Commission for the promotion of officers.”

Several Assistant Superintendents reportedly appeared before the board seeking advancement, but the letter makes clear that passing the assessment does not guarantee promotion, particularly when vacancies are limited.